Monterrey thrashed Sporting Kansas City 5-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final on Thursday.
Dorlan Pabon s brace and goals from Aviles Hurtado, Jesus Gallardo and Nicolas Sanchez saw three-time champions Monterrey all but seal a spot in the decider for the first time since 2012-13.
Sporting will need an incredible comeback in the second leg on April 11, with Tigres UANL – who lead Santos Laguna 3-0 – set to face Monterrey in the final.
It is set to mean a team from the United States has failed to reach the decider since Real Salt Lake in 2010-11.
Pabon opened the scoring in the seventh minute for Monterrey in Guadalupe after a pass from Rogelio Funes Mori.
¡Gol ! El local abre el temprano marcador en el partido de ida de semifinales y se pone 1-0 sobre |
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions)
Hurtado scored a scrappy second in the 14th minute before the hosts dominated the second half.
Gallardo tapped in at the back post 10 minutes following the interval, before Sanchez converted a 70th-minute penalty.
¡Gol ! Cae el tercero para Monterrey, en esta ocasión es quien anota y aumenta la ventaja 3-0 sobre | (edited)
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions)
The rout continued through Pabon s second as Monterrey recorded a resounding victory.