Liga MX

Goals from Aidan Morris and Diego Rossi on either side of halftime led the Columbus Crew to a 3-1 victory over Monterrey on Wednesday in Guadalupe, Mexico, giving the Crew a 5-2 aggregate win in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.

Columbus, the reigning MLS Cup champion, opened the semifinal series with a 2-1 home victory on April 24.

The Crew advance to oppose another Mexican team, Pachuca, in the final on June 2. Pachuca beat Liga MX rival Club America 2-1 on Tuesday to cap a 3-2 semifinal victory.

Actors and Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have purchased a minority stake in the Liga MX side Club Necaxa, Variety and Sportico reported Monday.

The pair join celebrity minority owners actress Eva Longoria, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, model Kate Upton and NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Longoria was instrumental in bringing Reynolds and McElhenney on board, according to the Variety report.

Jacen Russell-Rowe contributed the winning goal and an assist as the host Columbus Crew earned a 2-1 victory over Monterrey on Wednesday in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal series.

The two-leg series will conclude on May 1 in Mexico.

Russell-Rowe headed home the winner in the 72nd minute after setting up Cucho Hernandez's goal in the 25th minute. Monterrey had pulled level on a goal from Maximiliano Meza in the 58th minute.

Tigres UANL goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman has been banned for 11 matches by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) after aiming a laser pointer at Monterrey stopper Esteban Andrada during a LIGA MX match on Sunday.

In videos of the incident posted on social media, Guzman, who was injured and sitting in the stands, could be seen directing the laser pointer at the Monterrey players including Andrada in the match, which ended 3-3.

Nahuel Guzman laser pointer incident

Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup dreams were shattered in brutal fashion on Wednesday as Monterrey dismantled the Herons 3-1 at Estadio BBVA to win 5-2 on aggregate.

Wednesday’s second leg in Mexico was the most hostile environment Lionel Messi has played in since joining Inter Miami in the summer. Monterrey fans boo Messi every time he touches the ball and got the last laugh as their side cruised to victory.

Columbus goalie Patrick Schulte saved the first two attempts in a penalty shootout as the Crew advanced past Tigres UANL on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup at San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico.

Tigres grabbed an early lead on a goal from Gignac in the third minute. Schulte got caught in possession inside his own 6-yard box, and Gignac tapped the ball into the vacated goal.

Tigres take the lead over Columbus early pic.twitter.com/8vv57PwSgi

Inter Miami, playing without Lionel Messi, went a man down and then finished a goal down after the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Henry Martin scored in the 16th minute, Alejandro Zendejas added a goal eight minutes later and America never looked back in a 4-0 drubbing of the New England Revolution in Foxborough, Mass., on Tuesday night in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.

⚽️ ¡Gooool del América!
⚽️ ¡Gooool del América!
⚽️ ¡Gooool del América!

Pachuca 6, Union 0

Salomon Rondon's hat trick powered the hosts to a rout of Philadelphia in Pachuca, Mexico, sending Pachuca to a 6-0 aggregate victory.

Following a scoreless draw last week in Chester, Pa., Rondon opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty kick. He doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time when he exchanged quick passes with Erick Sanchez and fired home a left-footed shot from 12 yards out.