Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League nearly featured an upset for the ages.
It will have to be content with a finish for all time.
El Salvador’s Alianza came back from a 4-2 aggregate deficit to nearly knock UANL Tigres out of the CCL, but Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman provided a stoppage time goal to eliminate the upstarts.
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Tigres will now meet Ronny Delia’s New York City FC, who had little trouble holding up its first-leg lead over San Carlos.
Thierry Henry’s Montreal had to sweat out a scoreless draw with Saprissa, but rode its two away goals to a date with either Seattle or Olimpia.
Guatemala’s Comunicaciones and Club America are the final match of Wednesday, kicking off at 10 a.m. ET.
UANL Tigres 4-2 (5-4 agg.) Alianza
What a match. Down 2-1 after one leg, Tigres scored thrice in the first 23 minutes. Ex-West Ham man Enner Valencia struck first before Andre-Pierre Gignac score in the 17th and 23rd.
But Juan Carlos Portillo scored twice in nine minutes before halftime to put the away goals advantage in the Salvadorans’ corner.
Tigres out-attempted Alianza 19-6 but couldn’t get it done, and my goodness did it need shot No. 19 from its Argentine international backstop.
Great header for a goalie.
😱⚽️ ¡Gol de Nahuel Gúzman! ¡Gol que mandaría a @TigresOficial 🇲🇽 a cuartos de final de #SCCL2020 al final del partido! pic.twitter.com/aRV3AHoyMG
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 27, 2020
Montreal Impact 0-0 (2-2 agg.) Deportivo Saprissa
This was a dreadful match, but it won’t bother Titi too much; Henry’s men had just 31 percent of the ball and nearly scored anyway through Shamit Shome.
The Impact showed a lot of guts and discipline in frustrating the Costa Ricans, who were disappointed when Clement Diop made an incredible save in the 89th minute.
NYCFC 1-0 (6-3 agg.) San Carlos
Alexander Callens scored the lone goal of the contest, the damage done in Costa Rica last week.
Speaking of damage done, Delia had a “Welcome to CONCACAF officiating” moment.
Tempers flare between NYCFC and San Carlos in @TheChampions after THIS studs-up tackle on Mackay-Steven ⚠️
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 27, 2020
NY coach Ronny Deila sees a yellow for his involvement. pic.twitter.com/rYZ0O6Wxsu
