Pachuca wins CONCACAF Champions Cup title with 3-0 win over the Columbus Crew

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Salomon Rondon of Mexico’s Pachuca celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against the United States’ Columbus Crew during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final match at Hidalgo stadium in Pachuca, Mexico, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Norman Micolta of Mexico’s Pachuca, front, clears the ball challenged by Jacen Russell Rowe of the United States’ Columbus Crew during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final match at Hidalgo stadium in Pachuca, Mexico, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Gustavo Cabral of Mexico’s Pachuca, right, and Jacen Russell Rowe of the United States’ Columbus Crew fight for the ball during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final match at Hidalgo stadium in Pachuca, Mexico, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Salomon Rondon of Mexico’s Pachuca, top, heads the ball past Rudy Camacho of the United States’ Columbus Crew during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final match at Hidalgo stadium in Pachuca, Mexico, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Nelson Deossa of Mexico’s Pachuca, front, and Diego Rossi of the United States’ Columbus Crew fight for the ball during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final match at Hidalgo stadium in Pachuca, Mexico, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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PACHUCA, Mexico (AP) — Salomón Rondón scored a pair of goals and Pachuca won its sixth CONCACAF Champions Cup title with a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.

Emilio Rodriguez added a goal in the victory at Pachuca’s Estadio Hidalgo that earned the club a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held for the first time in the United States.

The win was Pachuca’s 31st straight at home in Champions Cup matches. The Liga MX team has the second-most overall titles in the competition, previously known as the CONCACAF Champions League.

Rondón won tournament’s Golden Boot with nine goals. The Venezuelan scored in the 12th minute, chipping the ball over oncoming Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and into the net.

Pachuca appeared to add another goal two minutes later off Rondón’s cross to Oussama Idrissi — but the goal was called back after a video review for a foul in the build up.

The Crew were vying to become the fourth MLS team to win the title, joining D.C. United (1998), the LA Galaxy (2000) and the Seattle Sounders (2022).

The Crew’s Cucho Hernández, who missed the last three MLS games with a back injury, started and had a good chance in the 31st minute but his shot went just inches wide.

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Just moments later, Rodriguez scored for Pachuca, tucking the ball into the upper corner and out of Schulte’s reach to make 2-0.

Schulte saved Érick Sánchez’s right-footed attempt from outside the box in the 58th minute.

Rondón scored between the legs of Crew defender Rudy Camacho and into the lower left corner in the 67th minute for a 3-0 lead.

The Crew, which won the MLS Cup title last year, had an impressive run in the Champions Cup, advancing on penalties after the two-legged quarterfinals against Tigres then embarrassing Monterrey 3-1 on its home field to win 5-2 on aggregate.

Pachuca defeated Liga MX foe Club America 3-2 on aggregate in the semifinals.

In addition to Pachuca, Monterrey, Club Leon and the Seattle Sounders have secured CONCACAF spots for the Club World Cup.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer