SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, México – Club América de Mexico dio un paso gigante hacia la obtención de su segundo título consecutivo de la Scotiabank CONCACAF Liga de Campeones, logrando una victoria 2-0 de visitante sobre Tigres de Nuevo Leon en el partido de ida de la final en el Estadio Universitario la noche del miércoles.
Darío Benedetto anotó a los 49 minutos y Osvaldo Martínez añadió el tanto que aseguró el triunfo a los tres minutos del tiempo de descuento.
El partido de vuelta el Club América será local en la Ciudad de México el 27 de abril.
SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, Mexico — Club America took a giant step toward defending its Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League title, recording a 2-0 victory over Tigres in the first leg of the 2015-16 final at the Estadio Universitario on Wednesday night.
Dario Benedetto scored in the 49th minute and Osvaldo Martinez added an insurance tally three minutes into stoppage time for the Aguilas, who increased their SCCL unbeaten streak to 12 matches (8-4-0).
The two-goal margin put Club America into the drivers’ seat for the second leg on April 27.
Benedetto, who notched his first SCCL goal since registering a hat-trick in last year’s final (a 4-2 second-leg win over the host Impact de Montreal), scored against the run of play. He headed in a Martinez left-wing cross at the far post in the 49th minute for his ninth career SCCL tally.
Martinez connected off a counterattack, beating goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman from 25-yards out for his first goal of the competition.
Club America thought it had also scored in the 57th minute. Guzman raced 50 yards out of his net and fouled Oribe Peralta. The Mexico international gained possession to slot the ball into an empty net, only for the effort to be disallowed for offside.
Tigres enjoyed stretches of possession in the opening half, but missed on several opportunities.
France international Andre-Pierre Gignac powered a 24-yard free kick right to Gonzalez in the eighth minute. Three minutes later, Anselmo Vendrechovski (Juninho) launched a 27-yard free kick just over the bar.
Javier Aquino penetrated into the area in the 33rd minute, sending his nine-yard attempt over the crossbar. After Gignac drilled a shot from the top left of the penalty area wide right a minute later, Guido Pizarro’s header off a corner kick went straight at Gonzalez in the 39th minute.
In the seven previous finals, only Cruz Azul in 2009/10 won the first leg and lost the series. It posted a 2-1 victory at home against Pachuca in the opener, before dropping a 1-0 decision in the second leg and falling short on the away-goals rule.