Tijuana Downs LA Galaxy 4-2 To Reach CL Semifinals
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Ecuador striker Jaime Ayovi scored twice in the first ten minutes to lead Tijuana to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday.
Ayovi scored in the 2nd and 9th minutes as Tijuana claimed a 4-3 aggregate win over the two legs of the quarterfinals. Argentine striker Dario Benedetto added a goal in the 26th minute and Richard Ruiz lengthened the lead in the 80th for Tijuana.
Robbie Keane scored off an Omar Gonzalez cross in the 46th minute and found the net again in 84th for the Galaxy.
Tijuana, playing for the first time in the region's top club tournament, will play either Sporting Kansas City or Mexico City-based Cruz Azul in the semifinals.
The Mexicans started strong and took the lead when Argentine Christian Pellerano..s shot inside the box was deflected by goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and the rebound fell to Ayovi, who scored from two meters.
Ayovi added a scored on a long cross from Pellerano after dribbling past Penedo and finished with a soft touch.
Tijuana..s third goal came when Benedetto stole the ball from Brazilian defender Leonardo Da Silva and scored with a powerful shot to the right post of the goalkeeper Penedo.
The Galaxy got closer on set play. Landon Donovan sent a cross inside the box to defender Omar Gonzalez, who pass it with the head to Keane for the goal.
Ruiz added a goal with a powerful strike inside the box, but Keane put the Mexican side to suffer with a late goal.
The Galaxy pushed to score a third goal, which would have given them the ticket to the next round, but Tijuana hang on to the win.
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