30.04.2015 04:56 h

Club America sink Impact to lift CONCACAF Champions League

Argentina striker Dario Benedetto scored a hat-trick as Club America of Mexico downed Montreal Impact 4-2 to win the CONCACAF Champions League final and book their place in the FIFA Club World Cup here Wednesday.

After snatching a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City last week, the Impact appeared to be closing in on victory after Andres Romero's deftly worked eighth-minute goal gave the Canadians a 2-1 aggregate lead.

But a devastating second-half goal blitz from America left a capacity Olympic Stadium crowd of 61,000 shattered just as they dared to dream of becoming the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF region's biggest club competition since 2000.

Highly rated Argentine striker Benedetto levelled the tie on 50 minutes with a sweetly struck volley before Oribe Peralta headed America into the lead in the 64th minute.

Benedetto bagged a second on 66 minutes, jabbing home a volley from close range, and then completed his hat-trick nine minutes from time with a curling shot from just inside the area.

Jack McInerney grabbed a late consolation effort for Montreal in the dying minutes.

America's 5-3 aggregate victory underscored the dominance of Mexican teams in the region's club competitions.

Mexican sides have now won the Champions League for 10 straight years, with Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa the last team from outside Mexico to lift the title in 2005.