Rondón, Pachuca too much for Columbus Crew to handle in CCC final

Tuzos hoist Concacaf hardware for first time since 2017

Playing its first game in three weeks, Pachuca manhandled Columbus Crew to earn its sixth Concacaf Champions Cup trophy at home on Saturday night.

Salomón Rondón – the leading scorer (9 goals) and Most Valuable Player of the tournament – scored a goal in each half to lead the Tuzos to a comfortable 3-0 victory over the MLS champions.

Pachuca had not played since being eliminated in the Liga MX quarterfinals back on May 11, but they were on song from the outset.

The Tuzos scored just 12 minutes in when Nelson Deossa split the defense with a picture-perfect pass that Rondón chased into the box before chipping over the onrushing Patrick Schulte.

Guillermo Almada’s team thought it had doubled the score just 2 minutes later, but Oussama Idrissi’s back-post tap-in from a Rondón cross was annulled on VAR review. (Rondón was ruled to have found defender Rudy Camacho to win the ball.)

Pachuca makes it 2-0

Just past the half-hour mark, Emiliano Rodríguez benefited from a nifty play by Rondón. The Venezuelan striker shielded off a defender in midfield, redirecting a pass to Erick Sánchez who charged through the gap left by the Columbus defense. 

Sánchez laid off to Rodríguez who was racing down the right channel and the 21-year-old winger one-timed a rocket into the upper corner at the near post.

The Crew was behind 2-0 but was creating chances, flowing forward with poise and patience, but the Pachuca back-line was working in synch. 

And when the defense left space, Carlos Moreno was there to cover up. The 26-year-old netminder was not tested often (3 saves) but he came up big when called upon. Moreno also roamed the area skillfully, hauling in several crosses and corner kicks with aplomb.

Rondón nails the coffin shut

In minute 66, Pachuca put the game to bed with Rondón supplying the sleep aid.

Rodrígez lofted a long diagonal to Idrissi on the left flank. Idriss dribbled into the box then squared to Rondón who cut back to the ball as Camacho slipped to the turf, the striker spun and skidded a low right-footer between the goalie and his right post.

It was 3-0 and Crew shoulders' slumped, but the MLS team fought a little longer in hopes of avoiding the shut-out.

Diego Rossi led "Cucho" Hernández on a diagonal run into the box in minute 70, but Moreno hustled off his line to deny "Cucho." Six minutes later, sub Jacen Russell Rowe clanged the crossbar with a curling shot, but that was as close as Columbus would come to finding the net.

Concacaf records and Liga MX bragging rights

Pachuca's victory continued Liga MX dominance over MLS in Concacaf tournaments. For the eighth time in nine Liga MX-vs-MLS finals, the Mexican team came out on top.

In this Concacaf Champions Cup, Liga MX teams went 10-5-2 against MLS sides and a +22 goal differential (38 goals scored, 16 goals allowed). The Tuzos were 2-1-0 against MLS teams this year, outscoring their three rivals 9-0.

For its part, Columbus was an impressive 2-2-1 against Liga MX clubs, eliminating Tigres in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals and defeating Monterrey 2-1 and 3-1 in the semifinals.

Liga MX franchises have won 39 Concacaf trophies compared to three for MLS teams. Pachuca is now tied with Cruz Azul for second on the all-time champions list, just one behind América who owns seven pieces of Concacaf hardware.