Cruz Azul finally broke their 17-year-old major title drought, picking up their first piece of serious hardware in nearly two decades thanks to an away goals win over Toluca in the CONCACAF Champions League final on Wednesday night.
The teams drew both legs, but La Máquina's 1-1 draw at Toluca on Wednesday trumped the scoreless opener in Mexico City last week. Cruz Azul's last major title was the 1997 Invierno to top what was then known as the Primera División. They also won the 2013 Copa MX.
Argentine striker Mariano Pavone, who proved impossible to contain in the quarterfinal win over Sporting KC, got what proved to be the deciding tally, netting in the 41st minute. Toluca answered back with a goal of their own in the 63rd and spent much of the rest of the game pushing for a second, but it wasn't to be.
The win is the sixth continental title for Cruz Azul, and the first since the tournament format changed from the old Champions' Cup to the CCL. They are now alone in first place in CONCACAF history, one title ahead of city rivals Club America.
It also officially marks the ninth straight tournament title for Mexican clubs, as well as the end of Monterrey's run of three straight CCL crowns.
