What does Monterrey need to qualify for the Concachampions final after losing 2-1 in the first leg against Columbus?

Wednesday, April 24, Lower.com Field, Ohio. Columbus Crew, who had already surprised the UANL Tigres, received a visit from Monterrey Soccer Clubfor the match corresponding to the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions CUP semifinals.

Although Rayados already has its ticket secured for the 2025 Club World Cup, which is the biggest prize in this competition, the hierarchy gained within the CONCACAF zone commits them to fighting until the end. However, Columbus Crew would not be an easy opponent to face.

The locals started the match winning, with a goal from Juan Camilo Hernández just in the twenty-fifth minute. Already in the second half, Maxi Meza, who is having a great moment with the Pandilla, scored the equalizer at fifty-eight, but at seventy-two, Russel-Rowe returned the advantage to the locals, who surprisingly won 2- 1 to Striped.

After this unexpected result, the Monterrey Football Club could find itself involved in a big problem. And at the close of the regular season in the Liga MX, the squad led by Fernando: 'Tano' Ortíz has only one point out of a possible twelve, so they have not yet secured their direct pass to the quarterfinals.

In case of losing next weekend against the Hidrorayos del Necaxa, added to a series of results, the Pandilla could leave the classification zone and would play the play-in right in the same week in which they would play the second leg against Columbus Crew, where they need to win no matter what to advance to the grand final.

The 1-0 victory would give the Monterrey team a pass. The 2-1 would take everything to overtime and any victory by a goal difference, if Columbus scores two, would be favorable for the MLS team. Defeat or a draw by any score would also leave Rayados out, so victory seems to be the only option.