Monterrey rallies late to score third straight CONCACAF CL title

Aldo De Nigris scored two goals to lead Monterrey to its third consecutive Champions League title.

Alejandro Zepeda/ZumaPress.com

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) -- Monterrey pulled off a stunning turnaround to win its third straight CONCACAF Champions League title on Wednesday, coming from two goals down to beat Mexican rivals Santos Laguna 4-2.

After a 0-0 draw at Santos in the first leg, Monterrey fell behind 2-0 at home, but scored four times in the final 30 minutes.

Aldo De Nigris got Monterrey going with a goal that made it 2-1 in the 60th minute. Neri Cardozo equalized off a poor defensive clearance that set him up at the top of the area for a right-footed blast in the 83rd.

Monterrey went ahead in the 86th minute when a long free kick by Alberto Suazo was headed in by De Nigris.

Suazo put the ball into an unguarded net for the fourth goal in stoppage time, setting off loud celebrations in the stadium.

"When we were behind 2-0 against a great team like Santos, you can't imagine rallying like this,'' De Nigris said. "Now we are a team that has proven ourselves and made some history.''

The last team to win the championships three straight times was Mexico's Cruz Azul from 1969-71.

Santos got goals from Carlos Darwin Quintero in the 38th minute and by Felipe Baloy 12 minutes later. But once Monterrey found the net, Santos couldn't stop the hosts.

"This is an extraordinary achievement that the boys have done,'' said manager Victor Manuel Vucetich. "It's a credit to them and one of great satisfaction for this group that worked so hard.''