The Concacaf Champions League (CCL) might not be the heavyweight battle that the UEFA Champions League (UCL) is. But one thing is certain: the CCL can cause some interesting matchups and high-stakes drama moments. Since the founding of the CCL, most of the champions have been Liga MX teams, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t gotten a run for their money. The Champions League was the successor to the Champions Cup, so on this list we will only focus on the Champions League games.
10 Best Concacaf Champions League Games
#10 Nine Goal Thriller (2010)
It is not often we see a nine-goal thriller, and it’s even rarer to see it decided in stoppage time. But that is exactly what happened between MLS side Real Salt Lake and Liga MX side Cruz Azul. Being held at the historic Estadio Azul, Real Salt Lake was comfortably up 3-1 with 15 minutes to go. Javier “Chuletita” Orozco scored a hat trick in a span of 15 minutes to put Cruz Azul up 4-3 in the 89th minute. Real Salt Lake would equalize in the 92nd minute, and a minute later Christian “El Chaco” Jimenez would net home the winner blowing the roof off the Estadio Azul.
#9 Stunning Comeback For Cruz Azul (2008-2009)
The heavily unfavored Puerto Rico Islanders seemed to be capping off a Cinderella story being at the cusp of reaching the final. The Islanders were going into the second leg of the series up 2-0. However, in a dramatic second leg, a 10-man Cruz Azul side clawed back to take the second leg 3-1, evening up the aggregate score. The match would go into a penalty shootout in which the Mexican side prevailed and reached the final.
#8 Darwin Quintero Heroics Win It For Santos Laguna (2008-2009)
Santos Laguna dropped the first-leg quarterfinal to Canadian side Montreal Impact, going back to the Estadio Corona in Torreon, Mexico. The late great Christian Benitez got the comeback started early for Santos, however, Montreal would still lead 4-1 at halftime on aggregate. Santos needed two more goals to move on. Carlos Darwin Quintero would then score a brace in stoppage time to give Santos the win and move on to the semifinals.
#7 Goalie Nahuel Guzman’s Last-Second Header Sends Tigres Through (2019-2020)
Liga MX giants Tigres were stunned in the first-leg Round of 16 match by Salvadorian side Aliana 2-1. Going back to Mexico, Tigres came out strong getting a three-goal lead with ease, however, Alianza did not back down and scored two goals tying up the aggregate score 4-4 and giving the Alianza a momentary ticket to the quarterfinal based on away goals. Tigres kept trying for the go-ahead goal but wouldn’t find success. Tigres managed to get a free kick in the dying seconds of the match that would find the forehead of Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman for the game-winning goal with the last kick of the match. Pure pandemonium arose in the Volcan as Tigres marched to the quarterfinals.
#6 Hirving Lozano Late Goal Sends Pachuca To The Final (2016-17)
Pachuca had lost the first leg of the semifinal to MLS side FC Dallas. Back in Mexico, Pachuca took a 2-0 lead for most of the game looking to go through to the final. FC Dallas managed to get a goal late from Cristian Colman to tie the aggregate score at three. However, a young Hirving Lozano would show abilities of greatness and scored a goal in stoppage time to send Pachuca to the final where they would capture their fifth title at the time.
#5 An All Monterrey Derby Final (2018)
Tensions were high amid the two heavyweight sides meeting in the league final and in high stakes matches. This one would be no exception. Monterrey would get its revenge after being on a losing streak against Tigres. Monterrey pulled out a 1-0 win in the first leg, however, with this Tigres team led by French striker André-Pierre Gignac, no lead is guaranteed. Monterrey would get a favorable penalty call and a Gignac goal late wasn’t enough for Tigres. Monterrey would celebrate its most recent title to date and fourth overall at home.
#4 Club America Comes Back Fast Against Herediano (2015)
Liga MX giant Club America lost the first semifinal leg to Costa Rican side Herediano by a score of 3-0. The first leg was completely unraveling, with Club America having a couple of players sent off and being dominated in a loss. Back in the historic Estadio Azteca, America came out of the locker room ready to play. It would take the Mexican side 20 minutes to tie up the score on aggregate. By the 25th minute, America was up on aggregate and on its way to a 6-0 win. With the win, America advanced to the final and would go on to win the cup.
#3 Club America vs. Montreal Impact Final (2015)
After a dramatic semifinal win, Club America faced off with the feel-good Montreal Impact side in the final. After a lousy scoreless draw in the first leg at Estadio Azteca, the second leg was over in Montreal. Montreal took the lead early and into halftime, looking comfortably ahead. However after halftime, Argentina strike Dario Benedetto scored a brace, including a wonderful scissor kick. America would break the Canadian’s hearts, itching a 4-2 win and capturing the final.
#2 Late Monterrey Goal Silences Santos Supporters (2012)
An all-Mexican-side final between Monterrey and Santos was decided in the final 10 minutes of the second leg. Monterrey had won the first leg thanks to a brace from club legend Humberto Suazo. Santos would tie the second leg and all signs pointed to extra time. However, a late goal in the 82nd minute by Neri Cardozo gave Monterrey its second title at the time.
#1 Chivas Wins First Champions League In Dramatic Penalty Shootout (2018)
After previously winning the Liga MX, Chivas was having a title hangover and doing poorly in the league and they met a Toronto FC side in the final that had huge momentum. Toronto came in eliminating favorites like Tigres and Club America while also riding the duo of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore. Chivas would pull out a 2-1 win in the first leg in Toronto. In the second leg Chivas kicked off the scoring but Toronto came back tying the aggregate at 3-3. With the game deadlocked it would go to a penalty shootout. Chivas would be perfect from the penalty spot while Michael Bradley, one of the highest-paid players in MLS history, missed a crucial penalty.
