CONCACAF Champions League Review: Valencia inspires Tigres, Toronto exit

Enner Valencia inspired Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions League, while Toronto crashed out in the last 16 on Tuesday.

Valencia scored a hat-trick as Tigres UANL thrashed Deportivo Saprissa 5-1 at home to secure a 5-2 aggregate success and move into the quarter-finals.

The former West Ham and Everton forward had the hosts on track quickly, as they took a 4-0 lead in the second leg inside 38 minutes.

Holding a narrow lead in the tie, the visitors made the worst possible start, confusion in defence leading to an Aubrey David own goal in the 15th minute.

Valencia placed in a penalty to put Tigres ahead in the tie before putting away a cross from Jesus Duenas in the 27th minute.

Eduardo Vargas stretched the Mexican outfit's lead 10 minutes later, finishing expertly into the bottom corner from inside the area.

While Mariano Torres pulled a goal back for Saprissa on the stroke of half-time, Valencia completed his hat-trick just after the hour-mark to seal Tigres' win.

¡Felicidades a Enner Valencia de @TigresOficial, quien ha ganado el premio al Jugador del Partido por su gran actuación!#SCCL2019 #TIGvSAP pic.twitter.com/GvyN4uoiYV

— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 27, 2019

In the last eight, Tigres UANL will face Houston Dynamo, who had Mauro Manotas net a double in a 2-1 win over Guastatoya that sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory.

.@MauroManotas19 Magic! The @HoustonDynamo forward caps off a stunning performance off the bench with this winning strike #HOUvCDG #SCCL2019 pic.twitter.com/SZ0og5tJGh

— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 27, 2019

Toronto bowed out after a 1-1 draw at home to Independiente saw them suffer a 5-1 aggregate loss.

Jordan Hamilton's 19th-minute goal gave the MLS side hope of a huge comeback, but the Panamanian visitors held firm and ended the tie with Omar Browne's second-half effort.