The CONCACAF Champions Cup 2000 was another avenue in the long legacy of club soccer spanning North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. In an edition of the tournament that gave us a handful of superb matches, standout showings, and fierce competition at times – all played by cocky clubs to boot.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup (which has been rebranded as the CONCACAF Champions League) is a continent-wide competition among clubs, and it has existed for years. Founded in 1962 the competition is designed to give clubs from Mexico, the USA, Central America, and those islands that make up CONCACAF a shot at being named champions of N. American soccer. The tournament has changed a lot over the years, and its 2000 installment was crucial in carving out that identity.
Quarterfinal Round
In the quarterfinals, according to all hostile pairs who want ONLY a path directly into the semifinals. Read on for a wrap of the exciting matches:
Necaxa vs. Joe Public FC
Trinidad Club Joe Public FC vs. Necaxa Joe Public, despite being clear underdogs in the series put up a decent fight but ultimately fell to Necaxa’s superior prowess 3-1.
DC United vs. Saprissa
America’s heavyweight D.C. United versus the champs of Costa Rica, Saprissa — this was THE game everyone had been patiently waiting for. DC United won the game 2–1 when Jaime Moreno scored with seconds left before penalties came to send his team through into the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2000 quarterfinals.
Pumas UNAM vs. Alajuelense
The clash of Pumas UNAM and Alajuelense was a closely fought contest. The defenses played well on both sides, but it was Pumas who defeated Alajuelense 1-0 and clinched a spot in the semifinals.
Semifinal Round
That was the case with semifinal matchups as well, where long-time San Francisco clubs went head-to-head for one of two places in a NFC2 Conference final.
Club América vs. DC United
Club América faced DC United in a game that turned out to be one of the most exciting we have seen during this competition. The first game was an amazing battle for both teams as everyone came well prepared for the encounter. Cuahtemoc Blanco was the hero as Club América finally made it, winning 3-2 in Preparing for Glory AND The One Ozil Was Right Column coming through on a goal that all but sealed Los Azulcremas‘ place in the Liguilla Final.
Necaxa vs. Pumas UNAM
The semifinal on the other side had Necaxa battling their fellow Mexicans Pumas UNAM. Necaxa, meanwhile, proved its mettle in the closing stages of a tight match with Tabasco winning 2-1 to claim their place in the final against Club América.
Final: Club América Vs Necaxa
The CONCACAF Champions Cup 2000 final seemed to be headed for a Del Norte bonanza—a showdown between two of Mexico’s most historic clubs: Club América and Necaxa. This would be at a neutral site, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas, and one for which anticipation had been high with fans of both sides ready to see this clash.
The early stages were very open with both sides having opportunities. Club América drew first blood after a defensive mix-up from Necaxa early on in the match. The goal was greeted by a wild celebration from the home fans and Cuauhtémoc Blanco took another step toward asserting his place in Club América lore, establishing himself as one of those players who performed well elsewhere but could never quite get it to come together for him at Aguilas.
The hosts, however, responded positively and began to press in search of an equalizer. Club América had a few chances but was generally kept quiet by motion good attackers created. However, Club América doubled their advantage as the game went on thanks to a brilliant strike from Jorge Campos.
The Rayos fought back with a late goal but it wasn’t enough to alter the result. Club América went on to win the final 2-1 and take their first CONCACAF Champions Cup title since 1996, firmly establishing themselves as perennial players in regional football.
Legacy of the 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup
On the field, we had some fantastic games and moments during the 2000 edition of CONCACAF’s club tournament, but this anointment remains as important today for what it meant to continental soccer. It demonstrated the burgeoning strength in depth of clubs from Mexico and America that would lay a foundation for Champions League expansion going forward.
The championship for Club América was the most prestigious of honors, only re-enforcing their already lofty status as the Mexican league’s all-time winningest team. The win also qualified them to represent CONCACAF in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Conclusion
Whatever the case may be, North American Soccer would come nowhere near what it is today without events such as the 2000 Champions Cup. The tournament was marked by memorable games, performances, and a triumph from Club América that would predicate the rise of what is today one of Mexico’s most prestigious clubs. It remains an instant in the memory of all those fans as to what are fond taste and drama during competition, but also a wistful reminder that such times still reflect on the rich history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
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