Pachuca strikes late to beat Tigres in CONCACAF Champions League final

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PACHUCA, Hidalgo -- Pachuca claimed its fifth CONCACAF Champions League title with a 1-0 win over Tigres on Wednesday, thanks to Franco Jara's late goal.

The win means Diego Alonso's side will head to the United Arab Emirates later this year to participate in the Club World Cup.

Favourites Tigres had a hard time breaking down Pachuca's defense, with star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac spurning several opportunities to put the Monterrey side ahead in the first 45 minutes.

In the 15th minute, the France international unleashed a well-placed shot that made Pachuca's keeper Alfonso Blanco fly to his far left in order to deny it. On the half hour, Gignac's rocket of a shot hammered off Blanco's crossbar, quieting the Pachuca faithful who sat behind the goal. Gignac raised his hands in disbelief.

But Pachuca stood firm in the first half, and ended with four shots of their own on goal.

Tigres kept searching for that goal that would have given them the championship, but their chances were always being cleared away by Pachuca's center-backs Omar Gonzalez and Oscar Murillo.

The hosts were rewarded for their industry when Guido Pizarro saw red after fouling Hirving "Chucky" Lozano in the 78th minute.

At that moment, Pachuca's chances of winning increased, and three minutes later, Jara found the back of the net and won Los Tuzos the championship.