Tigres on the verge of second successive Liga MX final after narrow win at 10-man Pumas

Jesús Angulo scored the only goal in Monterrey as Tigres defeated Pumas in the Liga MX Apertura 2023 semi-final first leg and took a big step towards reaching a second successive final.

Tigres hit the post twice in end-to-end first half

Los Universitarios started brightly, with Eduardo Salvio heading a free kick narrowly wide as they pushed for an early opener. However, an early injury to full-back Jesús Rivas disrupted Pumas’ rhythm and changed the flow of the game, allowing the visitors to gain a foothold.

Midway through the first period, Nicolás Ibáñez, in for the injured André Pierre-Gignac, acrobatically volleyed Fernando Gorriarán’s cross off the outside of the post after Tigres had finally settled into the contest.

Nahuel Guzmán made a superb stop to keep out Ulises Rivas’ angled drive and also saved Salvio’s follow-up from the edge of the box, although it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock before half time, with Julio González making an even better save to keep out Ibáñez’s header from a corner and Sebastián Córdova clipping the rebound against the woodwork.

Trigos red card gives Clausura 2023 winners the upper hand

Pumas again had the better of the early stages of the second half but were dealt a hammer blow just after the hour-mark when Santiago Trigos was sent off for a high challenge on Rafael Carioca, VAR upgrading the yellow card that had initially been shown to the young midfielder.

Antonio Mohamed’s team were facing an uphill battle from that moment on and a patient Tigres side ultimately made the most of their numerical advantage. With a little over quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Angulo’s crisp strike from distance flew beyond the grasp of the diving González, who may feel disappointed not to have done better.

What do Pumas need to qualify for the Liga MX Apertura 2023 final?

With Robert Siboldi’s team now in the driving seat and happy to take a lead into Sunday’s second leg, they took few risks in the closing stages and kept their opponents at arm’s length by holding onto possession for long spells. In order to progress to the final, Pumas must win by two goals at Estadio Universitario, where Tigres haven’t lost since 8 April.

Pumas

• 1 Julio González
• 4 Lisandro Magallán
• 6 Nathan
• 189 Jesús Rivas (16')
• 16 Adrián Aldrete (66')
• 10 Salvio (66')
• 12 César Huerta
• 22 Robert Ergas (45')
• 15 Ulises Rivas (66')
• 20 Santiago Trigos
• 19 Gabriel Fernandez
• Substitutes
• 11 Carlos Gutiérrez
• 13 Pablo Monroy (66')
• 33 Gil Alcalá
• 2 Pablo Bennevendo (16')
• 7 Rodrigo López (66')
• 21 Gustavo del Prete (45')
• 3 José Galindo
• 5 Jesús Molina (66')
• 9 Juan Ignacio Dinenno
• 25 Arturo Ortiz

Tigres

• 1 Guzmán
• 27 Jesús Angulo
• 20 Aquino (80')
• 3 Samir
• 19 Guido Pizarro
• 8 Fernando Gorriaran (85')
• 17 Francisco Córdova (85')
• 6 Juan Vigon (60')
• 5 Rafael Carioca
• 16 Diego Lainez (80')
• 9 Nicolás Ibáñez
• Substitutes
• 22 Raymundo Fulgencio (80')
• 15 Eduardo Tercero
• 26 Sebastián Fierro (85')
• 14 Jesús Garza
• 13 Diego Reyes
• 24 Marcelo Flores (85')
• 29 Jonathan Herrera (60')
• 25 Carlos Rodriguez
• 28 Fernando Ordóñez
• 32 Vladimir Loroña (80')

Substitutions

Pablo Bennevendo (16', Jesús Rivas), Gustavo del Prete (45', Robert Ergas), Ozziel Herrera (60', Juan Vigón), Rodrigo López (66', Ulíses Rivas), Pablo Monroy (66', Adrián Aldrete), Jesús Molina (66', Eduardo Salvio), Vladimir Loroña (80', Javier Aquino), Raymundo Fulgencio (80', Diego Lainez), Sebastián Fierro (85', Fernando Gorriarán), Marcelo Flores (85', Sebastián Córdova)

Goals

0-1, 73': Jesús Angulo

Cards

Referee: Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava
VAR Referee: Óscar Macías Romo, Guillermo Pacheco Larios
Samir (4',Yellow) Nathan (33',Yellow) Guido Pizarro (47',Yellow) Ulises Rivas (52',Yellow) Santiago Trigos (62',Red) Nicolás Ibáñez (86',Yellow)