Everyone should have enjoyed the appetizer matches and saved some space for more because the main course of the Leagues Cup is now here. The tournament is heating up, with four of the eight matchups pitting MLS clubs against Liga MX teams. One of those enticing intraleague matchups in the Round of 16 will be Tigres UANL taking on New York City FC at Red Bull Arena, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action on MLS Season Pass, Unimas, TUDN, and FS1.
Tigres come into this match fresh off a 1-0 win over Pachuca CF, with young star Marcelo Flores scoring the decisive goal off the bench. Having already taken down strong contenders like Inter Miami CF and Los Tuzos, Tigres will once again lean on André-Pierre Gignac as they aim to continue their dominance over MLS clubs, a trend that has persisted over the past decade.
Head Coach of Tigres Veljko Paunovic understands the importance of this match moving forward in Leagues club.
“Our future depends on doing things right in this round. They are a tough opponent, their MLS record speaks for itself and we have to overcome them; nothing should get in our way without us overcoming it.“ he praised.
Tigres Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman praised NYCFC as well. "We watched the games they played, taking note of details of our own...From midfield forward they have good players, mobility and we must be alert," he said.
New York City, on the other hand, surprised some by reaching this stage after a dramatic penalty shootout win over the New England Revolution. Although NYCFC has yet to secure a victory within the regulation 90 minutes, they’ve managed to advance in the Leagues Cup by grinding out results. Despite being the underdog and playing at Red Bull Arena, NYCFC will look to continue their strategy of forcing matches into penalty shootouts, where goalkeeper Matt Freese has been a standout.
NYC has successfully converted all 21 of their shootout attempts since the 2021 MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal against the New England Revolution.
New York City FC superstar Santiago Rodríguez spoke to the media and praised Tigres, but remained optimistic. “I think we’ll be able to attack and do some damage. It’ll be a difficult challenge, but a good one.”
“We respect Tigres, but that doesn’t mean I think we’re inferior” he said.
This match will determine which team advances to the quarterfinals to face either Inter Miami or the Columbus Crew. If Tigres advance, they will be on the road regardless of their opponent. However, if NYCFC move on, they would host Inter Miami in New York, but would travel to face the Columbus Crew.
In what promises to be a thrilling Round of 16 clash, Tigres UANL and New York City FC will battle not only for a spot in the quarterfinals but also for a step closer to lifting the Leagues Cup trophy. With Tigres favored but NYCFC poised to challenge the Mexican giants, this match is set to be a true test of grit and strategy. Both clubs know that only four wins stand between them and silverware, with a coveted CONCACAF Champions Cup berth within reach. As fans settle in for the main course of this tournament, they can expect a hard-fought, electrifying contest that could go down to the wire.
