Monterrey leads CONCACAF Champions League final

Reuters

Nicolas Sanchez scored on a header in the 43rd minute, and Monterrey earned a 1-0 road win over Tigres in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final on Tuesday in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico.

The second leg of the total-goals series will be played May 1 at Monterrey's home stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico. The home venues of the two Liga MX rivals are separated by just 7 miles.

On the goal late in the first half, Monterrey captain Dorlan Pabon sent in a corner kick that Sanchez met at the penalty spot. Sanchez's header sailed into the top right corner of the net.

Regardless of the winner, a Mexican team will capture the title for the 14th year in a row. Monterrey is seeking to add a fourth crown, having prevailed three times in a row from 2011-13. Tigres, the losing finalist in 2016 and 2017, has never won the CONCACAF Champions League.

--Field Level Media