Action from the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal, second leg match between visiting Queretaro (white jersey) and D.C. United on March 1, 2016. (Photo: Mexsport)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Queretaro earned its first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League semifinal berth after a 1-1 draw with host D.C. United in the second leg of their quarterfinal series on Tuesday night at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.
Angel Sepulveda scored his fourth career SCCL goal (first with Queretaro) in the fourth minute to put the visitor in command after its 2-0 first-leg victory in Mexico a week ago.
Tiago Volpi made nine saves for the Gallos Blancos, thwarting a Chris Rolfe penalty kick in the second half.
D.C. United’s Julian Buescher answered with his first professional goal in the 84th minute, but the MLS would’ve needed to strike three more times to overcome Queretaro’s away-goals edge.
Queretaro advanced despite going a third SCCL road match without an outright victory ()W-2D-1L). United, meanwhile, remained winless in six matches all-time against Mexican opposition (0W-2D-4L).
Sepulveda became the eighth Queretaro player to score in the tournament on a well-worked opening goal that began with Sinha’s cross from the right wing to find Edgar Benitez on the back post. Benitez headed the ball across the penalty area, and Sepulveda smashed a low, right-footed finish with his first touch beyond Andrew Dykstra’s dive.
Benitez missed two excellent chances later in the half, mis-hitting a wide-open shot after reaching Sinha’s diagonal ball in the 36th minute and shooting wide of Dykstra’s goal from the right seven minutes later.
Volpi rescued Queretaro in the 56th minute, diving right to deny Rolfe’s penalty after Patrick Nyarko drew a foul from Miguel Martinez to earn the spot kick.
Buescher entered just his second professional game in the 74th minute and struck 10 minutes later after taking a pass from Fabian Espindola. With time and space, he unleashed a 30-yard right-foot that whistled into the top right corner.
Queretaro hosts Guadalajara in Liga MX on Satuurday, while United opens its MLS campaign a day later at fellow SCCL competitor LA Galaxy.
