With Liga MX Semifinals getting underway, Tigres UANL hosted Toluca in a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Universitario in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It was a very even and competitive game, where both teams looked capable of winning throughout the match. Tigres dominated possession, holding onto the ball 57% of the match, however Toluca had the majority of the chances throughout the bout with seven shots on target compared to Tigres’s three. This draw will no doubt favor Toluca, who will play the second leg of this semifinal in their own stadium in front of their fervent fans.
Tigres Coach Guido Pizarro will be disappointed not to have come away with a better result to take into the second leg of this tie. The Nuevo Leon outfit started off the match in an impressive manner. They opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute of the first half, when pacey winger Ozziel Herrera broke free of his mark on the left side and crossed the ball to striker Nico Ibañez, who neatly put the ball into the back of the net to mark the first goal of the night.
Before the first half could end, Toluca rallied back into the match with a wonderful team goal. Winger Alexis Vega delivered a long ball to midfielder Marcel Ruiz, who brought the ball to heel in exquisite fashion. Ruiz then floated a lovely cross towards the back post that found Toluca striker Paulinho, who headed it into goal for Toluca’s first of the night.
Toluca coach Antonio “El Turcu” Mohamed is no stranger to the Mexican playoff system, winning three Liga MX titles and one Copa MX title as a manager. El Turco will look to add to his trophy cabinet but will have to vanquish Tigres at home for the chance to win it all in the upcoming final against the winner of the Club America versus Cruz Azul bout.
Tigres coach Guido Pizarro is in his inaugural season as a manager, after leading a coup against previous Tigres Coach Veljko Paunovic as a player and captain for the first team. Pizarro now has to go the Estadio Nemesio Díez and get a result against Toluca in order for his team to advance the final. This is something that Tigres is very capable of doing, especially with the quality roster they have at their disposal, but if they fall short many will look to heap the blame upon the shoulders of this young coach.
The second leg of this semi-final clash between Toluca and Tigres this Saturday at 6:00pm PST will be an exciting matchup between two quality teams that are both capable of being champions. Make sure to tune in for some of the best Football Mexico has to offer.
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