Rayados get leg up in Clásico Regio semifinal

Monterrey made an early goal stand up with rugged defense, but might regret missed opportunities.

Dorlan Pabón’s chipped goal before the quarter-hour turned out to be the winner for host Monterrey and the Rayados will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the Liga MX semifinals.

The visiting Tigres played an uncharacteristically sloppy game, managing only 2 meek shots on goal and turning the ball over repeatedly despite managing 58% possession.

Only 90 seconds after kickoff, Tigres defender Carlos Salcedo misjudged a long ball and headed it back toward his goal and right into the path of Monterrey striker Rogelio Funes Mori. The Argentine goal-scorer could not beat Tigres goalie Nahuel Guzmán with his first effort and he shoveled his second shot wide of the mark.

Just a few minutes later, Rodolfo Pizarro sent Avilés Hurtado into the box, but Guzmán was off his line quickly, forcing Hurtado to the baseline and his lofted cross soared over the head of Funes Mori at the back post.

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In minute 13, Monterrey midfielder Carlos Rodríguez pushed through from the left and sent a pass wide right to Miguel Layún who got deep in the box before cutting a short pass to Pabón near the top of the box. The Rayados’ captain took a quick glance and chipped a pass toward Funes Mori who was unmarked right in front of Guzmán. Perhaps thinking he was offside (or perhaps an intentional feint), Funes Mori gave a head fake but let the pass go by and Guzmán was fooled, with the ball bounding into the back of the net.

Try as they might, the Tigres could not mount any real scoring chances. The No. 2 seed managed only two weak shots on goal during the first half, and did not get a single shot on goal during the final 45 minutes.

The Rayados wasted a few more scoring opportunities in the first half and that could come back to haunt them if the Tigres play better in front of their home crowd on Saturday night.

Tigres coach Tuca Ferretti spent an inordinate amount of time on the touch line screaming at his players, few of whom enjoyed a good match. At the back, Salcedo forced too many passes that were intercepted and right back Luis “Chaka” Rodríguez was out of sorts, botching receptions and losing one-on-one dribbles. He played so poorly that he was finally subbed out late in a position-for-position switch, not a tactical adjustment.

The Tigres had poor spacing throughout, its lines too far apart and movement up front was poor. The visitors lacked patience on offense and tried the long ball more than usual, few of which found their intended target. Wingers Luis Quiñones and Javier Aquino often made poor decisions and André-Pierre Gignac forced a few ill-advised maneuvers.

As for the Rayados, Pizarro generated plenty of moves forward but was a constant target of Tigres tacklers. The shifty midfielder picked up a yellow card in minute 55 for complaining about the fouling.

Striker Rogelio Funes Mori menaced the Tigres defense for most of the game. He moved freely in and around the box, hustling back to start the offense deeper while looking for overlapping runners. Rayados midfielders Carlos Rodríguez and Celso Ortiz worked well in front of the central defense, cutting off passing lanes toward Gignac.

Jesús Gallardo forced a nice save from Guzmán in minute 64 and the Argentine keeper made another critical save later on off a long centering pass. His counterpart, Marcelo Barovero, had a relatively easy night though he was effective in cutting out crosses and collecting long balls.

The Tigres should feel lucky to only be down a goal, but coach Ferretti might contemplate some changes to his line-up. His team was unconvincing in surviving a stiff challenge by the No. 7 seed Tuzos in the quarterfinals, and the Tigres need some offensive spark if they hope to advance.