Liga MX: Matosas makes a difference, Siboldi doesn’t

Tigres drop points with game in hand

Although the Tigres pushed their Liga MX-leading undefeated streak to seven games, they no doubt feel cheated after settling for a tie. Lucas Zelarayán scored for the visitors in minute 32 with a splendid strike from 30 minutes that skipped past Gibran Lajud, banged off the left post and ricocheted into the net.

The celebration was short-lived, however, as Luis Quiñones was sent off 2 minutes later when he continued to yap at ref Diego Montaño after being shown a yellow card. Montaño had enough of the back-talk and pulled out the red card after raising the yellow a second time.

Despite being a man down, the Tigres had the better of play, creating lovely scoring chances that went to waste. Lajud made a sprawling save on a Zelarayán shot from close range in the first half, but was rarely tested after that as the Tigres got only 4 of their 18 shots on net.

The Xolos came out of halftime with a more aggressive approach and appeared to be establishing momentum when Aldo Cruz was shown a red card for stamping on Hugo Ayala’s leg. It was a harsh call (but unassailable) and both teams were down to 10 men. Shortly thereafter, Javier Aquino led a 3-on-1 break, but the Tigres did not even get a shot off after Aquino hesitated too long and allowed the lone defender to strip him of possession. Striker André-Pierre Gignac was furious as he was streaking into the box and Aquino simply had to nudge the ball into his path.

Gignac was the culprit a few minutes later, smashing a volley wide when he was unmarked at the back post.

With only 5 minutes remaining, Gignac sent Enner Valencia in alone on net but the Ecuadorian badly scuffed his shot right into Lajud’s midsection. The Xolos were surely grateful for the Tigres’ profligacy and they made the visitors pay in added time.

Tigres defender Jorge Torres Nilo blocked a cross in deep, popping it high into the air. Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzmán came off his line to punch the ball away but, in so doing, he sent Tijuana defender Diego Braghieri sprawling. Ref Montaño pointed to the spot, but first was asked to check with the video assistant referee. The replay showed Braghieri looking box out the goalie and making no effort to play the ball, but Guzmán clearly made contact with him. The question was if Montaño would buy what Braghieri was selling. He did and Miller Bolaños converted the penalty in minute 90+4 to salvage a tie.

The result was the fifth consecutive tie for the Tigres, so they have not truly benefited from their current undefeated streak. They remain in fifth place in the Liga MX table with 14 points while the Xolos remain stuck in 12th place with 11 points.