MIAMI, Florida – This week the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinals will commence on Tuesday with an all-Liga MX duel between Tigres and Club Leon. While it will be the first ever SCCL meeting between the two sides, it will be the 50th all-Liga MX match in SCCL knockout round history and the latest in a long line of all-Liga MX semifinals.

Here is a look back at five of the top all-Liga MX semifinals in SCCL history.

2008-09: Santos Laguna 3-4 Atlante

Atlante were the first champions in the SCCL era in 2008-09 and part of their journey to lifting the trophy was a thrilling 4-3 aggregate win against Santos Laguna. The first leg in Torreon saw Santos take a 2-1 lead in the series on the strength of a Darwin Quintero brace, while Atlante picked up an away goal through Gabriel Pereyra.

The second leg in Cancun was a classic, beginning with Luis Gabriel Rey’s goal in the 41’ to swing the tie in Atlante’s favor. But Vicente Matias Vuoso scored a big away goal for Santos, who then held a 3-2 aggregate lead, only to see Giancarlo Maldonado even the series 3-3 in the 73’. Just when it appeared things were headed for extra time, a foul in the Santos area earned Atlante a penalty, and Rafael Marquez Lugo calmly converted in the 90+4’ to give Atlante the 4-3 series win.

2010-11: Monterrey 3-2 Cruz Azul

On the way to their first of three straight SCCL titles, Monterrey had to navigate their past a tough Cruz Azul side in the 2010-11 semifinals, beginning with a 2-1 win at home in the first leg in which goals from Neri Cardozo in the 9’ and Sergio Santana in the 55’ for Rayados sandwiched an Adrian Cortes score for Cruz Azul in the 48’.

Monterrey then traveled to Mexico City for the second leg and fell behind 1-0 on Cesar Villaluz’s finish in the 23’ after an initial block from GK Jonathan Orozco. That gave Cruz Azul the lead in the series thanks to their away goal in the first leg, and as the match entered the final 10 minutes, time was running out on Rayados. Yet their champion’s spirit would surface in the late moments by earning a penalty, and legendary FW Humberto Suazo converting the spot kick in the 81’ to hand Monterrey a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 aggregate victory.

2013-14: Cruz Azul 2-1 Tijuana

After several near-misses in previous years, Cruz Azul would claim the 2013-14 SCCL title and it included a narrow semifinal win against Club Tijuana. Cristian Pellerano’s penalty conversion in the 78’ gave Xolos the advantage going into the return leg, but the tie was quickly evened in the 3’ of the second leg on an own goal from Javier Guemez.

Things stood on a knife’s edge going into the second half, but that changed when Julio Dominguez pounced on an attempted headed clearance in the Tijuana area and swept in a shot in the 50’ for a 2-0 Cruz Azul lead in the game and 2-1 in the series. Xolos had a slew of chances to score in the late going to win the series, but the Cruz Azul defense held on to punch their ticket to the Final.

2015-16: Club America 1-0 Santos Laguna

Both defenses starred in this hard-fought 2015-16 semifinal, beginning with a 0-0 draw in Torreon in the first leg. While there were some scoring chances, including a Club America shot off the post, it was largely a battle between the back lines.

The return leg in Mexico City was much of the same, with neither side willing to give an inch. Santos GK Agustin Marchesin was sensational in making a pair of saves to keep things scoreless, and then a sending off in the 87’ for Club America’s Darwin Quintero gave Santos a man advantage as play ticked over into extra time and the score still 0-0. But in the additional 30 minutes, Club America landed the decisive blow via a Michael Arroyo free kick in the 102’ to win the series 1-0 on aggregate.

2022: Pumas 2-1 Cruz Azul

Last year, Mexico City sides Pumas and Cruz Azul engaged in an epic semifinal thriller, as Pumas claimed a 2-1 aggregate win to reach the Final. 2022 SCCL Top Scorer Award winner Juan Dinenno struck for two first half goals in the 37’ and 45+2’ to give Pumas a 2-0 halftime lead at home in the first leg. Cruz Azul were desperate to get a goal back and their persistence paid off in the 83’ on a fine finish from Christian Tabo.

The 2-1 Pumas first leg win set the stage for an epic return leg on Cruz Azul soil, and the hosts were fancying their chances of a winning goal in the 63’ when Pumas DF Arturo Ortiz was sent off. Pumas never wavered through, as GK Alfredo Talavera made some key saves down the stretch to nail down the 0-0 result and a 2-1 aggregate victory for Pumas.