The 2012 CONCACAF Champions League final was the final of the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League, the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format, and overall the 47th edition of the premium football club competition organized by CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The final was contested in a two-leg aggregate format on 18 and 25 April 2012, between two Mexican teams, Monterrey and Santos Laguna. After winning the first leg 2–0, a 2–1 loss in the second leg gave Monterrey the title 3–2 on aggregate. As a result, Monterrey earned the right to represent CONCACAF at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, entering at the quarterfinal stage.
Background For the third time in four seasons of the CONCACAF Champions League, the final was played between two Mexican sides. This guaranteed a Mexican champion for the seventh straight year and 28th time since the confederation began staging the tournament in 1962 (including the tournament's predecessor, the CONCACAF Champions' Cup).
Monterrey were the defending champions, winning the title in 2010–11 after beating Real Salt Lake in the final. They defeated two Mexican sides in the knockout round.
Santos Laguna's previous best record was in 2008–09 when they reached the semifinals. Santos Laguna defeated two teams from Major League Soccer in the knockout round, scoring 6 goals in each of the two home victories.
Both teams qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League tournament by reaching the final of the Torneo Apertura 2010 in which Monterrey won with a score of 5–3.
Road to the final
MonterreyRound Santos LagunaOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legPreliminary roundOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legBye Olimpia4–33–1 (H)1–2 (A)OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult Herediano5–0 (A)Matchday 1 Real España3–2 (H) Seattle Sounders FC0–1 (H)Matchday 2 Isidro Metapán0–2 (A) Comunicaciones0–1 (A)Matchday 3 Colorado Rapids4–1 (A) Comunicaciones3–1 (H)Matchday 4 Isidro Metapán6–0 (H) Herediano1–0 (H)Matchday 5 Real España1–1 (A) Seattle Sounders FC2–1 (A)Matchday 6 Colorado Rapids2–0 (H)Group D winner TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts Monterrey6402114+712 Seattle Sounders FC6312107+310 Comunicaciones6213813−57 Herediano6204611−56Final standingsGroup B winner TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts Santos Laguna6411166+1013 Isidro Metapán63031015−59 Colorado Rapids6213912−37 Real España6123911−25OpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legChampionship roundOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Morelia7–23–1 (A)4–1 (H)Quarterfinals Seattle Sounders FC7–31–2 (A)6–1 (H) UNAM4–13–0 (H)1–1 (A)Semifinals Toronto FC7–31–1 (A)6–2 (H)
Rules Like other match-ups in the knockout round, the teams played two games, one at each team's home stadium. If the teams remained tied after 90 minutes of play during the 2nd leg, the away goals rule would be used, but not after a tie enters extra time, and so a tie would be decided by penalty shootout if the aggregate score is level after extra time.
Final summary
First leg
MONTERREY: GK 1 Jonathan OrozcoRB 2 Severo MezaCB 15 José María BasantaCB 21 Hiram MierLB 5 Dárvin ChávezCM 8 Luis Ernesto Pérez (c)CM 17 Jesús Zavala CM 10 Ángel ReynaRF 7 Humberto Suazo CF 9 Aldo de Nigris LF 18 Neri Cardozo Substitutes:FW 13 Darío Carreño MF 20 Walter Ayoví DF 6 Héctor Morales Manager: Víctor Manuel VucetichSANTOS LAGUNA: GK 1 Oswaldo Sánchez (c)RB 23 Felipe Baloy CB 5 Aarón GalindoCB 4 Jorge Iván Estrada LB 20 Osmar Mares DM 8 Juan Pablo RodríguezCM 6 Marc Crosas CM 37 Cándido Ramírez FW 16 Herculez GomezFW 3 Carlos Quintero FW 13 Christian SuárezSubstitutes:DF 28 Carlos Adrián Morales MF 10 Daniel Ludueña MF 17 Rodolfo Salinas Manager: Benjamín Galindo Assistant referees: Marvin Torrentera (Mexico) Marcos Quintero (Mexico) Fourth official: Ricardo Arellano (Mexico)
Second leg
SANTOS LAGUNA: GK 1 Oswaldo Sánchez (c)RB 19 Rafael FigueroaCB 5 Aarón GalindoCB 4 Jorge Iván Estrada LB 14 César IbáñezDM 8 Juan Pablo RodríguezCM 10 Daniel Ludueña CM 17 Rodolfo Salinas FW 24 Oribe PeraltaFW 3 Carlos QuinteroFW 13 Christian Suárez Substitutes:MF 16 Herculez Gómez DF 28 Carlos Adrián Morales MF 10 Cándido Ramírez Manager: Benjamín GalindoMONTERREY: GK 1 Jonathan Orozco RB 2 Severo MezaCB 15 José María BasantaCB 21 Hiram MierLB 5 Dárvin ChávezCM 8 Luis Ernesto Pérez (c) CM 17 Jesús Zavala CM 10 Ángel Reyna RF 19 César Delgado CF 9 Aldo de Nigris LF 18 Neri CardozoSubstitutes:MF 20 Walter Ayoví FW 13 Darío Carreño DF 6 Héctor Morales Manager: Víctor Manuel Vucetich Assistant referees: José Luis Camargo (Mexico) Alberto Morín (Mexico) Fourth official: Mauricio Morales (Mexico)
References
External links CONCACAF Champions League official website