Union to face Mexico’s Club América in Champions League semifinals
América beat the Portland Timbers, 3-1, in Mexico City on Wednesday for a 4-2 aggregate series win.
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MEXICO CITY — Federico Viñas scored twice and Club América advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals with a 4-2 aggregate victory over the Portland Timbers.
Viñas scored in the 21st minute before adding a penalty kick in the 59th in the 3-1 final Wednesday night at the historic Azteca stadium. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw last week in Portland.
Diego Valeri scored on a penalty kick to keep the Timbers’ hopes to advance alive in the 64th minute, fooling Club America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. But Leonardo Suarez scored for Club America in the 70th.
América will face the Union in the semifinals set to start in August. The Union eliminated Atlanta United 4-1 on aggregate.
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The first game of the series will be at the Azteca some time from Aug. 10-12. The Union’s home game will be the week of Sept. 14-16.
Earlier Wednesday, Monterrey defeated the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew 3-0 in Monterrey to advance 5-2 on aggregate.
Monterrey will face Cruz Azul, quarterfinal winners over Toronto FC, in the semifinals.
América has won the Champions League twice in the last decade. Its manager, Santiago Solari, played a year of college soccer at Stockton University in Galloway Township, N.J., in 1994. (The school was called Richard Stockton College at the time.)
Inquirer staff writer Jonathan Tannenwald contributed to this report.