And then there was one!
Entering the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew represent the only remaining American club in the competition against a field of Liga MX giants.
Becoming the second MLS champion of the modern continental tournament, therefore, won’t be an easy task but the Crew made history against a Liga MX team in the quarterfinals and would be happy to continue doing so.
Here is a closer look at this week’s CCC action:
Columbus Crew vs. Monterrey
If Columbus is to follow in the Seattle Sounders footsteps by lifting this prestigious trophy, they’ll have to do it through the most difficult path in the tournament. After a hard-fought battle in the Round of 16 against reigning U.S. Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo, the Liga MX opponents lined up.
First was Tigres UANL, who after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Columbus looked sure to advance. After all, no MLS team had ever advanced against a Liga MX opponent after failing to win the first leg of a CCL tie at home. As mentioned at the top, Columbus made history in changing that. Their dramatic penalty shootout win led by MLSNEXTPRO graduates Patrick Schulte and Max Arfsten felt like a watershed moment for MLS.
As their reward, they have the region’s #1 ranked team waiting for them in the semifinal.
Rayados had no easy route to this point either, having dispatched reigning MLS Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati in the Round of 16 followed by shutting down Lionel Messi and reigning Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami CF in the quarterfinals. Despite the strong opponents, Rayados made no secret of their intention to dominate this tournament, winning all four individual games across the two ties.
After beating the two other contenders for “Major League Soccer’s best team”, Rayados will be looking to do the same to the current holders of the moniker while the Crew attempts to create more history. One thing is for sure; entertainment is sure to follow.
Club América vs C.F. Pachuca
On the other side of the bracket, Club América will be taking on Pachuca in an all-Mexican clash to determine the first CCC finalist of 2024. Despite not being considered a traditional Liga MX Gigante as Club América is, Pachuca has as many Concacaf (then Champions League) titles (5) as their opponents. They’ve also won more recently (2016-17) and were champions of the 2022-23 Liga MX Apertura.
This season, however, América won the Apertura and currently sit atop the Clausura as well with Pachuca closer to mid-table. As a result, Pachuca will remain the underdog, but one with a fighting chance.
Both teams will enter their semifinal full of confidence after thrashing their respective opponents in the quarterfinal round. Pachuca had the easier matchup against Club Sport Herediano of Costa Rica, winning 7-1 on aggregate behind a second consecutive CCC hat-trick from Salomon Rondon in the first leg. América supposedly had the more difficult opponent in MLS’s New England Revolution but made that assumption look questionable with a 9-2 aggregate win including a couple of goals from USMNT international Alex Zendejas and a goal from former LAFC winger Brian Rodríguez.
If last round was anything to go by, expect goals in this enticing all-Liga MX CCC semifinal.
