Tigres endure challenge from lively Orlando City in Concachampions

It was revolting; however, Tigres progressed to the Concacaf Champions Association quarterfinals because of a 1-1 draw at Orlando City, SC.

Sebastián Córdova scored a delightful goal in minute 21, chest-catching a long cross inside the container and quickly banging home at the back post.

Starting from the main leg, Mexico finished 0-0; Orlando City needed to score two times to dispense with Tigres because of the away-goal rule.

The MLS club could deal with a late goal (a beautiful bicycle kick by Ercan Kara); however, they scrambled before Nahuel Guzmán’s net as time lapsed.

Tigres disappoint

Despite being selected as the best Liga MX side in this season’s CCL, Tigres needed to fight 180 minutes to move beyond an unassuming Orlando City team.

In Florida, the Liga MX monsters looked upset about broadened timeframes. Unfortunately, dividing and deviant passing prompted noticeable dissatisfaction, intensified by some actual play from the hosts, albeit Honduran ref Said Martínez called it a fair game.

The Tigres’ messy play, awful direction and sporadically unfortunate essentials kept Orlando City in the match, principally because Pedro Gallese made 7 gigantic recoveries.

With some better wrapping up, “los felinos” would have taken care of this game from the get-go in the last part. The Mexican side needed to work out a strained completion.

Mentor in a tough situation

The outcome will protect Marco Antonio Ruiz’s occupation for the present, yet it won’t end the analysis that has come to his direction since he took over after Diego Cocca left to turn into the Team Mexico manager last month.

Tigres are a pitiful 2-1-2 in their beyond five Liga MX matches – scoring only 3 goals – and the team has shown an absence of discipline lately, with continuous quarrelling among players on the pitch.

This weekend, Ruiz will lead his men in the extremely significant “Clásico Regiomontano”, and an unfortunate outcome against association driving Monterrey could leave him in an exceptionally tough situation as the Liga MX calendar moves in the direction of the stretch run.