Tigres cruise into CONCACAF Champions League final despite defeat

Despite losing the second semifinal leg Wednesday, Tigres cruised into the CONCACAF Champions League final after a 5-3 aggregate win over fellow Mexican club Santos Laguna.

Visiting Santos Laguna emerged with a 3-2 victory Wednesday at Torreon, Mexico. But Tigres was in control after taking the first leg 3-0 at home last week and then scoring the first two goals of the rematch.

Tigres will be in the CONCACAF Champions League final for the first time.

Enner Valencia scored for Tigres in the 11th minute, and teammate Julian Quinones added on in the 34th minute. Julio Furch finally got Santos Laguna on the board in the 41st minute.

Gerardo Arteaga tied the second leg for hosts in the 59th minute, and Diego Valdes' 77th-minute score was the winner on the night.

The two-legged championship round, to be played in late April and early May, likely will be an all-Liga MX affair. Monterrey holds a 5-0 lead on Sporting Kansas City heading into the second leg of the other semifinal, to be contested Thursday in Kansas City, Kan.

Mexican clubs have won the title 13 years in a row. A Major League Soccer team hasn't captured the championship since the Los Angeles Galaxy took the crown in 2000.