Skip to main content

Concacaf Champions League

Coronavirus in sport: ATP Tour suspended for six weeks, multiple football leagues paused

The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in the ATP Tour being suspended for six weeks, while the PGA Tour will be played behind closed doors until April 5.

Football in Spain, the Netherlands, the United States and Portugal has been put on hiatus, while Champions League games between Manchester City and Real Madrid, and Juventus and Lyon have been postponed.

A second Serie A player has been confirmed to have contracted coronavirus, while the Utah Jazz announced a second positive test for COVID-19. Donovan Mitchell confirmed he was the latest individual with the infection, while Rudy Gobert is reported to be the other.

We look at the biggest events to have been impacted by the proliferation of the virus.

 

A six-week suspension was implemented by the ATP Tour, which it said came in the wake of the World Health Organization declaring the spread of COVID-19 constituted a pandemic and 30-day travel restrictions imposed by the United States.

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: "This is not a decision that was taken lightly and it represents a great loss for our tournaments, players, and fans worldwide. However, we believe this is the responsible action needed at this time in order to protect the health and safety of our players, staff, the wider tennis community and general public health in the face of this global pandemic."

The WTA Tour was yet to follow suit, but the Miami Open has been scratched from its schedule after a state of emergency was declared in Miami-Dade County.

Following the news that LaLiga had suspended its next two matchdays and Real Madrid had established a self-imposed quarantine in the wake of one of their basketball players testing positive for COVID-19, Los Blancos' Champions League last-16 second leg against Manchester City on Tuesday was postponed.

The meeting between Juventus and Lyon has also been pushed back after Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have contracted coronavirus and the Serie A champions implemented isolation procedures.

UEFA will hold a videoconference with European football stakeholders on Tuesday to discuss the response to the outbreak. The talks will include all domestic and European competitions, including Euro 2020.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has requested its Euro 2020 play-off against Northern Ireland on March 26 be postponed, while Denmark expects its friendly against England five days later to be cancelled.

One game that has been cancelled is Wales' friendly against the United States on March 30.

Sampdoria announced Manolo Gabbiadini was the second professional Serie A player to test positive. The club said he had "a slight fever, but is otherwise fine". On Sunday Gabbiadini played 61 minutes against Hellas Verona, who also activated isolation procedures as a result.

Hannover confirmed a second case of coronavirus in their squad, with Jannes Horn following Timo Hubers in testing positive. All players from the German team will be under home quarantine for the next 14 days, with the club asking for their upcoming 2.Bundesliga games against Dynamo Dresden and Osnabruck to be called off.

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers revealed three of his players have shown symptoms of coronavirus and have been isolated from their team-mates. Stats Perform understands all players put into isolation have only displayed mild symptoms, meaning they have not met the threshold to be tested for the virus.

In the Netherlands, all football has been cancelled until March 31. This includes amateur and professional games, as well as the national team's fixtures against the USA and Spain.

Portugal's Primeira Liga and the CONCACAF Champions League have been postponed for an indefinite period, while MLS has been suspended for the next 30 days.

Elsewhere in the USA, the NHL season has been paused. Comissioner Gary Bettman said: "Following last night's news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus - and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point - it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time."

The PGA Tourwill continue as scheduled, though fans will be barred from attending events starting from Friday at the Players Championship until the Texas Open, which finishes on April 5.

However, the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship has been cancelled due to potential logistical issues associated with players and staff travelling internationally.

The Washington Wizards have imposed self-isolation on players, coaches and basketball operations personnel for three to four days. The Wizards played the Jazz – who have confirmed two cases of coronavirus among their roster – on February 29 and the New York Knicks on March 10. The Knicks had a game with Utah six days before the Wizards did.

The Jazz's second positive test came after their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday was called off. Mitchell said on Instagram: "Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news about my positive test. We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realise that they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of those around them."

After the NCAA announced no fans would be permitted at March Madness, the American, Atlantic 10, C-USA, MAC, America East, Big East, Big Sky and WAC announced their conference tournaments had been cancelled.

The Washington Redskins became the first NFL team to announce a change in protocol in relation to the coronavirus. Redskins owner Dan Snyder said: "Due to health and travel concerns surrounding COVID-19, Redskins have informed all coaches and scouts to suspend all travel until further notice."

Promoters Top Rank have confirmed their upcoming boxing shows at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden will go ahead behind closed doors.

Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to defend his WBO featherweight world title against Miguel Marriaga in the main event on Friday's card in New York, while Michael Conlan headlines next Tuesday when he takes on Belmar Preciado in a 10-round contest.

The remaining two ODIs between India and South Africa will also be played behind closed doors, the International Cricket Council announced. There will also be no fans at Pakistan Super League games in Karachi.

In rugby union, the Pro14 has been indefinitely suspended. A statement said: "Resumption of the 2019-20 season will now become a matter of constant review. To this point Pro14 Rugby has ensured that it has the latest information and guidance made available by the local and national authorities via our participating unions in the UK, Ireland, Italy and South Africa."

However, the quarter-finals in the European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup remain set to go ahead as planned.

The next two NASCAR events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway over the next two weekends will be undertaken behind closed doors.

Cruz Azul 0-0 Pumas UNAM: Pumas hold on to make Champions League final

The 2020 Mexican Guardianes runners-up, who were reduced to 10 men after Arturo Ortiz's 63rd-minute red card, will face the winner of the tie between New York City and Seattle Sounders.

Seattle won the first leg at home 3-1, with the second leg to be played on Wednesday, ahead of the continental decider with the first leg scheduled for later this month.

Juan Dinneno's double in the first leg gave Pumas the advantage in both scoreline and complexion, in comparison to what was a cagey first leg.

With Cruz Azul needing to chase the game and tie, space was not a premium on Tuesday and it was largely characterised by end-to-end football, with chances for both teams.

Uriel Antuna came closest for the hosts, but they were lacking composure in both the final pass and in front of goal.

Cruz Azul were given a small lifeline just past the hour, with Ortiz sent off for dragging down Santiago Gimenez as the last man in the 63rd minute.

Pumas were even denied a penalty in the 75th minute and managed to hold on. They will face the winner of the tie between New York City and the Seattle Sounders.

Cruz Azul 1-4 Monterrey (1-5 agg): First-half blitz sends four-time winners into Champions League final

Leading 1-0 from the first leg in Monterrey, the visitors blew away Cruz Azul in a stunning opening 25 minutes where they opened up a 3-1 lead.

Maximiliano Meza and Orbelin Pineda traded goals within the opening 10 minutes, before Duvan Vergara and Rogelio Funes Mori netted to make it 3-1.

Mexican international Funes Mori added another in the 52nd minute to complete the win for Monterrey, who were Champions League winners in 2019.

Carlos Rodriguez found Meza unmarked inside the box, dispatching a low finish off the post for a seventh-minute lead and 2-0 advantage on aggregate.

Guillermo Fernandez teed up Orbelin Pineda for a low drive from a set-piece to equalize in the 10th minute.

Vergara curled in a spectacular 17th-minute goal after Meza's initial cross was over-hit, before Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada made a fine save to deny Fernandez.

Funes Mori made it 3-1 in the 24th minute, after a lengthy VAR review for offside, with a sweeping first-time left-foot finish.

Andrare denied substitute Bryan Angulo, before Funes Mori worked a one-two with Meza to settle the contest early in the second half.

Monterrey will face America in an all-Mexican final on October 28 in Guadalupe.

Cruz Azul thump Portmore United in Mexico to end Champions League run

The result lifted Cruz Azul to a 6-1 aggregate win over the Caribbean club and a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

There was suffocating pressure from Cruz Azul from the very start, yet the star of the show early on was Portmore United goalkeeper Kemar Foster, who made a trio of highlight-reel saves.

But Foster could only stop so many shots and Orbelin Pineda gave Cruz Azul a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute with a spectacular right-footed volley.

Cruz Azul continued pushing for another goal, but they had to wait until the 60th to double the margin when Jonathan Borja floated in a cross from the left and from the slimmest of angles, Lucas Passerini headed in to make it 2-0.

The night was then capped by Pablo Ceppelini’s penalty conversion in the 76th and Borja’s strike in the 90th.

Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman scores dramatic late goal for Tigres in CONCACAF Champions League win

Leading 3-2 at home but staring at an exit on the away goals rule, Tigres UANL needed some heroics deep in additional time.

Up for a set-piece, Guzman incredibly headed in an Eduardo Vargas free-kick to give Tigres a 4-2 victory and 5-4 aggregate win, sending them into the quarter-finals.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper was unmarked when he met Vargas' delivery in the 94th minute midweek.

Enner Valencia's opener and an Andre-Pierre Gignac brace had put Tigres in control before Juan Carlos Portillo Leal's double for Alianza.

Tigres, who have made a slow start to the Liga MX Clausura season, will face New York City in the last eight.

History-making Sounders celebrate 'immortality', look forward to facing Liverpool or Madrid

The Sounders beat Pumas UNAM 3-0 at Lumen Field on Wednesday to complete a 5-2 aggregate triumph and finally deliver a first Champions League title for MLS.

Seattle are the league's third CONCACAF champions but first in the Champions League era after a series of heartbreaks for rival clubs.

Two goals from Raul Ruidiaz and a late clincher from captain Nicolas Lodeiro sparked scenes of mass celebration in front of a raucous, record crowd of over 68,741.

Garth Lagerwey, the Sounders' general manager, gave Extratime his assessment: "Immortality. You get into sports for stuff people can never take away.

"This will be written down, it will be there forever. Hopefully it's the first of many."

Real Salt Lake, CF Montreal, Toronto FC and Los Angeles FC had each previously fallen at this final hurdle.

Now, for MLS, Lagerwey says, Seattle are "the symbol, we're the tip of the spear, we pushed through, we finally did it, we vanquished the demons".

"But everybody's welcome," he added. "We want a crowded mountaintop up here. We don't want to be up here by ourselves."

Playing just hours after Madrid had completed an epic semi-final fightback against Manchester City in UEFA's Champions League, Lagerwey could not help consider a Club World Cup clash with a European giant.

"We're going to play against Real Madrid or Liverpool in a real game for a trophy," he said, with Seattle's place in the tournament secure. "I feel like a little kid. This is the stuff you dream of."

The Sounders had already won two MLS Cups, a Supporters' Shield and four U.S. Open Cups, but this victory takes the club to another level entirely.

"I think we're going to become a global club now," the GM added.

"I've got to think my phone's got to start ringing once some people see what our fanbase, our building... it's as good a soccer environment as anywhere in the world. It just is. This is a pretty special place."

Monterrey 1-0 Club America: Rayados clinch fifth CONCACAF Champions League title

Rogelio Funes Mori was the hero, with the Mexico international's ninth-minute goal proving the difference at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe on Thursday.

America defender Sebastian Caceres failed to deal with a ball into the penalty area, his whiffled clearance gifting Mori and Monterrey the early opener.

Former Tottenham striker Victor Janssen went close to doubling Monterrey's lead with 10 minutes of regulation remaining after rounding goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, but his effort was cleared off the line.

There were incredibly 15 minutes of stoppage time and America came close to dramatically equalising in the 101st minute when Federico Vinas rattled the crossbar in a goal-mouth scramble.

Monterrey, though, held on for their second Champions League trophy in three years.

New York City FC 1-1 Seattle Sounders: Sounders reach maiden Champions League final

The 1-1 result at Red Bull Arena in the second leg put the Sounders through 4-2 on aggregate, following their comfortable 3-1 win in last week's first leg.

Given what was at stake, it was a fiery opening from the outset, with elbows leading and City's Valentin Castellanos earning a yellow card in onl the opening minute.

The Sounders put themselves in the box seat in the 28th minute, though, with Raul Ruidiaz scoring and getting the Sounders 4-1 ahead on aggregate.

City had the proverbial mountain to climb even after Santiago Rodriguez's goal in the 51st minute, but Stefan Frei still came to the rescue for Brian Schmetzer's side, coming up with important reflex saves on multiple occasions in the second half.

The Sounders will now face Pumas UNAM in the Champions League final, after they saw their way past Cruz Azul on Tuesday.

It marks only the fifth time since 2010 that North American club football's showpiece has not been contested by two Mexican teams.

Philadelphia Union 0-2 Club America (0-4 agg): Mexican giants reach CONCACAF Champions League final

Liga MX giants America sealed a 4-0 aggregate semi-final triumph thanks to second-half goals from Nicolas Benedetti and Henry Martin.

America – seven-time champions – will face either Cruz Azul or Monterrey in an all-Mexican final on October 28.

MLS outfit the Union had a two-goal deficit to overturn in Philadelphia midweek and the home side came close to scoring five minutes into the second half.

The Union had a penalty saved by Mexico international Guillermo Ochoa, who denied Jamiro Monteiro, after Kacper Przybylko was fouled by Bruno Valdez.

Philadelphia – looking to end MLS' title drought in the Champions League, dating back to LA Galaxy's success in 2000, dominated the second half.

However, Benedetti all but settled the contest in the 79th minute before Martin tapped home America's second of the night in stoppage time.

Portmore United facing mission impossible against Cruz Azul

The Jamaicans had the Mexican club on their heels in the first leg, leading 1-0 heading into second-half stoppage time, but a ferocious late rally earned La Maquina a dramatic 2-1 win and the momentum going into Tuesday’s second leg.

History will be on Cruz Azul’s side with the Mexican club riding a 20-match home unbeaten streak in Concacaf competition and an overall record of 20W-6D-1L, with 69 goals scored and just 12 against.

 Nevertheless, Portmore United Head Coach Ricardo Gardner’s men have everything to gain and will be relying on the exploits of FW Ricardo Morris, who had four shots in the first leg, and GK Kemar Foster, who registered eight saves last week, to try to pull off the result.

For Cruz Azul, a draw or win would see them advance a round in the SCCL for the first time since 2013-14, when they last lifted the trophy.

Pumas 2-2 Seattle Sounders: Lodeiro penalties rescue visitors in CONCACAF Champions League final

Trailing to a double from Juan Dinenno, Seattle battled back in Mexico City to make it honours even ahead of next Wednesday's second leg at Lumen Field. Lodeiro's leveller came in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

This opener at Estadio Olímpico Universitario saw Dinenno take the lead with a twice-taken penalty in the 38th minute. His first attempt was saved by Stefan Frei, but the goalkeeper was ruled to have stepped off his line.

Dinenno headed in powerfully for Pumas' second goal in the 48th minute, but the comeback began when Seattle were awarded a penalty for a handball by Sebastian Saucedo, and Lodeiro drove home in the 77th minute.

Lodeiro fired into the right corner on that occasion and was handed another spot-kick deep into stoppage time.

Cristian Roldan was judged to have been fouled on the right side of the penalty area by veteran defender Efrain Velarde, and Lodeiro chose to go the same way, again beating goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera with a powerful strike.

Pumas UNAM 2-1 Cruz Azul: Pumas inch closer to Champions League final

A Juan Dinenno first-half brace ultimately separated the two side in what was an intense and tight contest.

Cruz Azul were denied the lead in the 20th minute after well-worked move, with Uriel Antuna ruled offside for his finish from Ignacio Rivero's deft reverse pass.

Pumas somehow did not break the deadlock after Cruz Azul goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado's charge for a cross, as Luis Abram scrambled to clear Favio Alvarez's shot off the line.

Pumas eventually got off the mark through Dinenno in the 37th minute and in similarly chaotic circumstances, with another Abram clearance off the line deflecting off the post, then onto Dinenno's foot and in.

He doubled the margin for Pumas in a more conventional manner in first-half injury time, reading Alan Mozo's cross best to powerfully head home past Jurado.

Cruz Azul gave themselves a late lifeline in the tie, though, with Christian Tabo's goal in the 83rd minute.

Seattle Sounders 3-0 Pumas UNAM (5-2 agg): Sounders claim maiden CONCACAF Champions League title

With the scores level to open the game, it proved to be a very cagey opening 45 minutes and the Sounders faced early difficulty, with Nouhou Tolo and Joao Paulo forced off with injuries.

Brian Schmetzer's side got a break just before the interval, however, with Raul Ruidiaz scoring following a scramble in the penalty area in the 45th minute.

Needing to chase the game with the ball, Pumas really struggled to create anything of substance in the second half as the Sounders absorbed pressure.

Indicative of the second leg's complexion, the best chance with the tie in the balance fell to Seattle via Alex Roldan, who intercepted a rushed throw out from Alejandro Talavera in the Pumas goal.

Ruidiaz eventually wrapped up the tie and trophy for Seattle, scoring in transition in the 80th minute. After his two penalties in the first leg, Nico Lodeiro scored Seattle's third in the 87th minute after another Pumas loss of possession.

Seattle Sounders 3-0 Pumas UNAM: Sounders claim maiden CONCACAF Champions League title

With the scores level to open the game, it proved to be a very cagey opening 45 minutes and the Sounders faced early difficulty, with Nouhou Tolo and Joao Paulo forced off with injuries.

Brian Schmetzer's side got a break just before the interval, however, with Raul Ruidiaz scoring following a scramble in the penalty area in the 45th minute.

Needing to chase the game with the ball, Pumas really struggled to create anything of substance in the second half as the Sounders absorbed pressure.

Indicative of the second leg's complexion, the best chance with the tie in the balance fell to Seattle via Alex Roldan, who intercepted a rushed throw out from Alejandro Talavera in the Pumas goal.

Ruidiaz eventually wrapped up the tie and trophy for Seattle, scoring in transition in the 80th minute. After his two penalties in the first leg, Nico Lodeiro scored Seattle's third in the 87th minute after another Pumas loss of possession.

Seattle Sounders 3-1 New York City FC: Morris leads Seattle in CONCACAF Champions League semi-final

An action-packed first half saw Seattle head into half-time with a 2-1 lead, and it was largely through the good work of Jordan Morris.

Albert Rusnak broke the deadlock in the 16th minute – which was assisted by Morris – and after New York City's Thiago Andrade squared the ledger in the 27th minute, Morris added the Sounders' second just seven minutes later.

The home side was good value for their early lead, with 1.51 expected goals to 0.72 in the first 45 minutes.

Seattle captain Nicolas Lodeiro gave his side some breathing room just over 20 minutes into the second stanza, successfully converting his penalty in the 68th minute to make it 3-1.

New York City will host the second leg on Wednesday, April 13, where the winner on aggregate will go through to the final to face the winner of Pumas UNAM and Cruz Azul, with the former leading 2-1 after their first leg at home.

Tigres UANL 2-1 Los Angeles FC: Mexican side claim first CONCACAF Champions League title

CONCACAF Champions League silverware had eluded Tigres, who were runners-up in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

But Tigres finally got their hands on the Champions League trophy thanks to Tuesday's come-from-behind 2-1 victory over LAFC.

Diego Rossi's 61st-minute opener for LAFC was cancelled out by Hugo Ayala 11 minutes later before Andre-Pierre Gignac netted the winner with six minutes remaining as Tigres secured their place at February's Club World Cup in Qatar.

LAFC were bidding to make history at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, where Bob Bradley's side were looking to become the first MLS team to win the continental tournament in its current format – LA Galaxy claimed the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 2000.

Rossi's goal just past the hour-mark had LAFC on track to snap Mexico's stranglehold on the Champions League, after the 2020 MLS Golden Boot winner found the back of the net with a lofted finish.

Liga MX giants Tigres, however, responded in the 72nd minute when centre-back Ayala sent a ball past LAFC goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer.

Tigres completed the comeback via former France international Gignac, who finished from outside the box to earn Golden Boot and MVP honours.

"At last! It is deserved for the institution... I always wanted to win the CONCACAF Champions League," Gignac said afterwards. "Today it's Tigres' turn.

"It's for all the people back in Monterrey working in the offices. This is for the people in Monterrey."