MEXICO CITY – Jonathan Osorio scored and Toronto FC advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League final, playing to a 1-1 tie against Club America on Tuesday night for a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Toronto FC will meet Chivas in the home-and-home total goals final.
Toronto FC put out the same starting lineup from last week’s 3-1 win in the first leg, but substitutes Victor Vazquez, Chris Mavinga and Justin Morrow were unavailable.
Missing the playmaking Vazquez became an issue early as striker Jozy Altidore went down in the seventh minute with an injury. He was replaced by Tosaint Ricketts.
Osorio scored in the 11th minute, taking a pass from Ricketts just before the penalty box and slotting the ball neatly into the net for a 1-0 lead. It was Osorio’s third goal of the Champions League tournament.
Toronto defender Eriq Zavaleta seemingly scored an own goal in the 20th minute, tying the game 1-1, but the assistant referee raised his flag for an offside call after the near score.
Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono made an impressive save in the 27th minute, getting a single hand on a sharp standing header from Club America midfielder Alex Ibarra, deflecting the ball wide of the net.
Bono came up big again five minutes later, throwing his hands up for a close-quarters save on Bruno Valdez, catching his own rebound to quiet Club America’s offence.
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The Toronto FC goalkeeper stepped up again in the 63rd minute, jumping to get a glove on the ball and tip a well-placed strike from Alejandro Diaz over the crossbar.
Bono charged forward to put his body on a cross in the 77th minute, getting to the ball before a hard-charging Club America forward.
As the game wore on Toronto captain Michael Bradley moved further and further back, helping to shore up TFC’s defence. His presence made a difference in the 80th minute when he stopped a potential breakaway by Diaz.
Club America had a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area in the 84th minute, with goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin coming up to take the shot so his teammates to load up the box. His shot was blocked by Toronto FC’s wall, defusing the threat.
Andres Uribe tied it for Club America in the second minute of injury time on a penalty kick.
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