Cruz Azul beats Tigres to reach Champions Cup final

MEXICO CITY, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Mexico international forward Angel Sepulveda converted a late penalty as Cruz Azul advanced to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday with a 1-0 home win over Tigres UANL.

Sepulveda broke the semifinal deadlock in the 82nd minute when he blasted his spot-kick past Argentine goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman after a Marcelo Flores handball.

The result at the Olimpico Universitario stadium in Mexico City gave Cruz Azul a 2-1 victory on aggregate following the teams' 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Cruz Azul will face Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps in the final on June 1.

The latter reached the tournament decider by overcoming Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 5-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the premier club competition in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The champion will automatically qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. ■