THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PACHUCA, Mexico — Pachuca won the CONCACAF Champions League final in dramatic style Wednesday, with Edgar Benitez’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time securing victory over rival Mexican club Cruz Azul.
The 1-0 result levelled the tie at 2-2 on aggregate, with Pachuca winning on the away-goals rule. Cruz Azul had won the first leg 2-1 in Mexico City.
Benitez scored on a bouncing shot that got past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesus Corona. Pachuca has now won four CONCACAF Champions League titles — three in the past four years.
The victory puts Pachuca into the Club World Cup later this year in Abu Dhabi.
"I asked God to let me have the ball in front of the goal, and it was the last play," Benitez said. "I turned and when it went in I couldn’t believe it."
Added Andres Fassi, the team’s sporting director: "It’s off the charts … to win a game like this. It’s more energy for a club already full of passion."
Pachuca pressed hard in the final 10 minutes, forcing Corona to come up with several key saves before he was finally beaten, with Paraguayan striker Benitez shooting from the left side.
Cruz Azul, considered one of Mexico’s big four teams, continues to struggle in big games.
Cruz Azul lost last year’s CONCACAF final to Mexican club Atlante. The club had also lost three Mexican league finals in recent seasons, and was eliminated last weekend from this season’s Mexican league playoffs.
The loss will be painful for Cruz Azul coach Enrique Meza, who coached Pachuca to two of its CONCACAF titles. He joined Cruz Azul this season.
Meza also coached Pachuca to the Copa Sudamericana title in 2006, becoming the only Mexican team to win one of South America’s top club tournaments.