Tigres win in Clasico Regio upends Rayados
Monterrey could not handle their crosstown rivals at home and their coach was sacked as a result.
The Tigres had not won a game since Aug. 10 heading into the Clasico Regio and the defending champs had fallen out of playoff position. After Saturday night’s Monterrey derby, it is the Rayados that are in chaos.
Lucas Zelarayan and Andre-Perre Gignac scored second-half goals for the visiting Tigres and came away with a 2-0 win, allowing them to climb into 7th place in the table while knocking their bitter rivals down into 12th.
The loss was the sixth of the season for Monterrey, and that was the last straw for Rayados management who fired coach Diego Alonso on Monday. The Uruguayan manager had become deeply unpopular to Monterrey fans who had been calling for his departure for several weeks now. On Monday, before Alonso was fired, fans had started circulating a petition online demanding his firing.
Heading into the match, word leaked out that Alonso had been given an ultimatum – win the Clasico Regio or face dismissal. After the match, he told reporters he would not resign, but his determination was for naught.
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The latest reports indicate that Monterrey is working to recruit former Chivas coach Matias Almeyda (now coaching San Jose in MLS) and Hugo Sanchez.
Back to the game. The first hour of the Clasico Regio was rather even, though the Rayados were creating the more dangerous opportunities and more consistent possessions.
The Tigres seemed content to play a conservative style, searching for the counter attack. In minute 69, a low cross caused Monterrey goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero a bit of trouble and he botched the play, leaving a bad rebound that Zelarayan pounced on and bundled into the net. Gignac added the clincher in minute 83.
As if that weren’t enough for the Rayados, star forward Aviles Hurtado suffered a torn Achilles tendon and he will be out the rest of the season.