MONTERREY, Mexico — Monterrey could only draw 1-1 with local rival Tigres on Wednesday, but it was enough lift the CONCACAF Champions League for the fourth time, extending Mexico’s domination of the tournament to 14 consecutive championships.
Monterrey had won the first leg 1-0, making it 2-1 on aggregate.
Nico Sanchez netted from the penalty spot in the Clasico Regio in the 25th minute, after Rodolfo Pizarro had been tripped inside the area by Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez.
Substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac leveled the second leg of the final with a scissor kick five minutes from the end, but Tigres couldn’t find the goal to take the game to extra-time.
Monterrey dominated the first half and Pizarro was particularly influential, with Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzman saving from Rogelio Funes Mori and a misguided header from team-mate Carlos Salcedo to keep the score at 1-0 at half-time.
Tigres coach Ricardo Ferretti had surprisingly left Gignac out of the starting XI and his entrance at half-time spurred Tigres.
The away team pressed in second half and their first attempt on target came ten minutes into the second half, when Gignac forced a stretching save from Rayados keeper Marcelo Barovero. But the two goals they needed to force extra time were beyond Tigres.
Monterrey also had its chances in the second half, with Funes Mori hitting the crossbar with a looping shot from 30 meters.
Tigres are still without an international trophy, having lost the 2016 and 2017 CONCACAF Champions League finals and the 2015 Copa Libertadores final.