MIAMI, Florida – On Friday at 7:00 PM ET, Concacaf will be airing a re-broadcast both legs of the 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final between Chivas and Toronto FC on Concacaf’s Facebook and YouTube pages, in addition to the Concacaf App.
For the third time in SCCL history, the Final was a battle between Liga MX and MLS and it produced one of the most scintillating Finals ever.
Throughout the tournament, Chivas had shown a knack for getting good results away from home and they could not have asked for a better start in the final first leg in Toronto than when Rodolfo Pizarro slotted home a right-footed shot in just the 2’ for a 1-0 lead.
Being down a goal early at home in the first leg was nothing new for Toronto FC. They had experienced the same fate in their quarterfinal against Tigres UANL and had rallied for a 2-1 win. With that comeback objective in mind, Toronto FC sought the 1-1 equalizer and it came in the 19’ when a cross from Marky Delgado found Jonathan Osorio at the back post.
The momentum was with Toronto FC and they had several cracks at a go-ahead goal but were denied by Chivas GK Miguel Jimenez.
The saves from the visiting stopper were just the lift the Liga MX side needed and they regained the lead, 2-1, in the 72’ when Alan Pulido curled in a free kick over the head of Toronto FC GK Alex Bono.
The Guadalajara club held that lead until the final whistle, putting themselves in a good position for the second leg a week later in Mexico, and once again Chivas were out to a quick start as Orbelin Pineda made it 3-1 on aggregate with a goal in the 19’.
But Toronto FC were not about to quit and suddenly found themselves within a goal on aggregate in the 25’ thanks to Nicolas Hasler, who fought off a pair of Chivas defenders and crossed for Jozy Altidore, giving the U.S. international an easy stroke into net to level the match 1-1.
Things were turning in Toronto FC’s favor and Sebastian Giovinco would give the Canadians a 2-1 lead in the match in the 44’ with a clever right-footed shot that beat Chivas GK Rodolfo Cota at the near post to make it 3-3 on aggregate.
Toronto FC then had two golden chances to win it in the final minute, but were unable to find the target, resulting in a penalty shootout. From the spot, Chivas were on the mark, converting all four of their attempts ( Oswaldo Alanis, José de Jesús Godínez, Alan Pulido y Ángel Zaldivar) while Toronto FC missed on two ( (Jonathan Osorio y Michael Bradley) to earn a 4-2 penalty shootout win and their first ever SCCL title.
