CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Liga MX clubs’ worst results in the CONCACAF Champions League
Mexican side Atlas suffered a 4-1 beating at the hands of Olimpia of Honduras as the 2023 round of 16 got underway.
The first leg of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League didn’t go to plan for Atlas, it’s fair to say. They were handed a 4-1 thrashing by Olimpia, who already look to have one foot in the next round of the competition. The Honduran side were clinical in front of goal and the end result could have been even worse for the Liga MX outfit if a fifth goal for Los Leones hadn’t been ruled out for offside. Atlas are not, however, the first Mexican club to have suffered a surprise disappointment in CONCACAF’s top club tournament.
Arcahaie 0-0 Cruz Azul, 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
In the round of 16 first leg, Haitian minnows Arachaie shocked Cruz Azul even though they didn’t actually beat them. La Máquina headed into the game on a run of 11 straight victories and were expected to sweep aside their opponents, only to be held to a goalless draw in Haiti. The Mexicans did, admittedly, rotate their roster and left out of some of their star names, a mistake they didn’t repeat as they dismnatled Arachaie 8-0 in the return game at Estadio Azteca. Nevertheless, that stalemate in the first leg will live long in the memory of the Caribbean club.
Club América 0-1 Olimpia, 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
Hondurans Olimpia have got previous in this competition against Mexican clubs. The team from Tegucigalpa also visited Mexico City in the 2021 tournament and were rather more successful than Arachaie, recording a historic 1-0 victory against Club América thanks to a goal from Jerry Bengtson. Las Águilas ultimately went through on away goals but Olimpia will always have that night at Azteca.
Monterrey 2-3 Arabe Unido, 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League
Monterrey have been one of the richest clubs in CONCACAF and all of the Americas in recent years. However, they suffered a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Árabe Unido of Panama in the group stages in 2016. To make matters worse, they were also beaten in the return match in Colón and failed to progress to the knockout stages as a result.
Club América 0-1 Alajuelense, 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League
Alajuelense of Costa Rica beat América at home during the 2013-14 group stage but that proved to be just the beginning. The Ticos demonstrated that that victory wasn’t a fluke by also posted a narrow victory against Ame at Azteca, Jerry Palacios scoring the only goal. Like Rayados a few years later, that prevented the Mexicans from qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Xelajú 1-0 Chivas, 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League
Chivas qualified for the tournament having finished top of the Apertura 2011 regular season standings. But they struggled to hit top form in the Champions League and were knocked out at the group stage. John Van Shipt’s men lost in Guatemala against Xelajú thanks to a goal by Edgar Chinchilla.