FOR A SPOT IN THE FINAL

TIJUANA –Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente will face Cruz Azul for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League final after both Mexican clubs advanced into the semifinals. The first leg of the home-and-home series against “La Maquina Celeste” will be played Tuesday April 1 (7 p.m. Pacific) at Estadio Caliente.

A great atmosphere is expected at the stadium in the first of two matches that will determine a ticket to the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco. Coach Cesar Farias’ team trained in the afternoon Monday March 31 at Estadio Caliente where the team polished the final details before playing in the semifinals.

“We know in what moment we are in and the importance that it has and that we need to continue making history,” said Club Tijuana midfielder Richard Ruiz during a news conference. “We are going to try and come out and get a good result, take advantage that we are at home. We hope that our fans will come out and support us like it always has and that it fills Estadio Caliente and that it becomes one of those games that we will always remember.”

CLUB TIJUANA’S ROAD TO THE SEMIFINALS

Club Tijuana advanced to the semifinals after beating L.A. Galaxy (4-3 aggregate) in the quarterfinals and after finishing in first place in Group 7 with 10 points with three wins and two ties. The team outscored opponents 10-2 in the group stage.

HOW CRUZ AZUL REACHED THE SEMIFINALS

Cruz Azul reached the semifinals after beating Sporting Kansas City (5-2) in the quarterfinals an after finishing in first place in Group 3 with 12 points, winning four games. The team from Mexico City also outscore opponents 10-2 in the group stage.

MEETINGS BETWEEN CLUB TIJUANA AND CRUZ AZUL IN THE MEXICAN FIRST DIVISION

Xoloitzcuinltles and “la Maquina Celeste” have faced each other six times in the Mexican First Division. Cruz Azul leads the series with a 3-0-3 record.

 MATCHES BETWEEN CLUB TIJUANA AND CRUZ AZUL:

2011 Apertura

Week 6 – Estadio Azul

Cruz Azul 2-1 Club Tijuana

0-1/ 22’ Dayro Moreno (TIJ)

1-1/ 48’ Edixon Perea (CAZ)

2-1/ 67’ Emanuel Villa (CAZ)

2012`Clausura

Week 6 – Estadio Caliente

Club Tijuana 0-0 Cruz Azul

2012 Apertura

Week 14 – Estadio Caliente

Club Tijuana 2-2 Cruz Azul

0-1/ 4’ Mariano Pavone (CAZ)

1-1/ 18’ Gerardo Flores (CAZ-Own)

2-1/ 67’ Duvier Riascos (TIJ)

2-2/ 75’ Alejandro Castro (CAZ)

2013 Clausura

Week 14 – Estadio Azul

Cruz Azul 5-0 Club Tijuana

1-0/ 31’ Mariano Pavone (CAZ)

2-0/ 56’ Teofilo Gutierrez (CAZ)

3-0/ 75’  Gerardo Flores (CAZ)

4-0/ 89’ Javier Orozco (CAZ)

5-0/ 91’ Javier Orozco (CAZ)

2013 Apertura

Week 11 – Estadio Caliente

Club Tijuana 0-0 Cruz Azul

2014 Clausura

Week 11 – Estadio Azul

Cruz Azul 2-1 Club Tijuana

0-1/ 44’ Richard Ruiz (TIJ)

1-1/ 46’ Marco Fabian (CAZ)

2-1/ 69’ Marco Fabian (CAZ)