Monterrey downs Tijuana to win delayed Copa MX final

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Vincent Janssen netted from the penalty spot to help Monterrey to a 1-1 draw against Club Tijuana on Wednesday to lift the Copa MX title with a 2-1 aggregate win over two legs.

Janssen took advantage from the spot in the 87th minute, with Xolos' only goal over the series coming from a long-distance strike by David Barbosa less than a minute later. Monterrey's Nico Sanchez also had a penalty saved by Jonathan Orozco in second half injury time.

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The trophy means Monterrey is now the reigning Liga MX, CONCACAF and Copa MX champions. Monterrey won the Liga MX's 2019 Apertura tournament final against Club America and the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League final against Tigres, with the 2020 Clausura suspended and the latest edition of the CCL set to be concluded in December.

Monterrey had the better of the game at home and Xolos keeper Orozco kept his team in the match with a good save from a Sebastian Vegas header just before half-time.

Before that, Xolos midfielder Christian Rivera had a shot from close to the penalty spot deflected wide in the 38th in the away team's clearest chance, but once again Orozco came to Tijuana's rescue when he palmed a Jesus Gallardo shot onto the crossbar one minute later.

Tijuana pushed in the second half, but was unable to break down a Monterrey team that will go into the Liga MX playoffs as one of the favorites for the title.

Xolos manager Pablo Guede came into the game under some pressure due to the team's poor form in Liga MX, with the border club down in 15th in the league table and out of the playoff contention.

The final of Mexico's cup competition was originally set for April, but was pushed back to September and eventually the current dates due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2020-21 edition of the tournament was canceled because of scheduling issues.