Epic Comebacks: Historic Comebacks in CCC Semifinals

Here we revisit some of the epic comebacks in Champions Cup.

MIAMI – The Concacaf Champions Cup has delivered its share of unforgettable moments, including dramatic comebacks that remain etched in the memories of fans.

Nashville SC, which travels to Mexico trailing 1-0 on aggregate against Tigres UANL, and Toluca FC, looking to its home field advantage to overturn a 2-1 first-leg loss to Los Angeles FC, will aim for comebacks of their own in the upcoming second leg encounters of the 2026 Semifinals.

Here we revisit some of the epic comebacks in Champions Cup history.

Toluca erases massive deficit against Club América (2003)

Despite scoring the opening goal, Deportivo Toluca FC was off to a rough start in the First Leg of the 2023 semifinals, falling 4-1 to Club América at home.

The Second Leg was a completely different story as Toluca bounced back with a 4-nil win, scoring all four goals in the second half to stun Las Aguilas at Estadio Azteca, and advance to the Final on a 5-4 aggregate.

Toluca would go on to defeat Morelia, 5-4 on aggregate, in the Final to win its second CCC trophy.

Cruz Azul storms past Pumas UNAM (2009)

Pumas blanked Cruz Azul 1-nil in the First Leg, but La Máquina Cementera flipped the script in the Second Leg with a 5-nil rout of their crosstown rivals to advance to the Final.

Cruz Azul ousts Club Tijuana (2014)

Homefield advantage played a big part in this 2014 series as Club Tijuana won the First Leg, 1-nil, at Estadio Caliente.

Cruz Azul reverted the situation with a 2-nil shutout in Mexico City, going on to win the 2013/14 edition over Toluca (1-1 agg.) on away goals.

Club América stuns C.S. Herediano (2015)

Costa Rican club CS Herediano earned a 3-nil win at home in the First Leg, but the Mexican giants were determined to change the course of the series in Mexico City. Las Aguilas did just that with an epic 6-nil result in the Second Leg.

Club America went on to defeat the Montreal Impact, 5-3 on aggregate, in the Final to win the 2014/15 edition and a then-record sixth title.

Pachuca dispatch FC Dallas (2016)

After falling 2-1 on the road in Texas, Pachuca returned home and cruised to a 3-1 victory over FC Dallas in the 2016/17 semifinals. Los Tuzos went on to win 2-1 on aggregate over Pumas for its fifth CCC trophy.

Club León rallies past Tigres UANL (2023)

Tigres did its job at home with a 2-1 victory in the First Leg of the 2023 edition, but the Second Leg belonged to Club León as they stormed to a 3-1 win to advance to the Final.

León went on to defeat Los Angeles FC, 3-1 aggregate, in the Final to collect its first Champions Cup trophy.