In a game between two clubs with the aspiration and the pedigree to make a deep run in the Leagues Cup, second half substitute Marcelo Flores scored the game’s only goal to hand Club Tigres de la UANL a 1-0 win over Club Pachuca at Q2 Stadium in Austin. With the win, Tigres advanced to the Round of 16 for the second year in a row. Pachuca, on the other hand, were eliminated in the Round of 32 for the second year in a row.
The first half started like most elimination games do: two well coached, yet risk averse teams were waiting for the other to make a mistake. Add to that a 92° temperature at the gametime, and it was understandable that both teams played with an overabundance of caution. Tigres were more deliberate in their build up, and Pachuca more direct. It was los tuzos who would end up with the most chances at goal; the most dangerous of which was a Salomón Rondon near-post blast that Nahuel Guzmán stoned with his foot.
Not even 20 minutes into the second half, the heat had taken its toll. Tigres replaced their front line of André-Pierre Gignac, Sebastián Córdoba and Ozziel Herrera with Nico Ibáñez, Marcel Flores and Luis Quiñones. It didn’t take them long to make an impact. In the 65th minute two of the three new subs combined for the game’s only goal, as Flores outran his closest defender to chase down an Ibañez cross that had bounced across the goalmouth to smash it inside the top of the net. The 20-year-old celebrated with his signature aerial twist, much to the delight of the pro-Tigres crowd watching.
“At half time, we told the squad that one would be a hero. But to be a hero, everyone must put in the effort so one can stand out. Marcelo was the one after we made the subs, but everyone put in the effort.” Tigres coach Veljko Paunović said postgame.
“Tigres is an upper-echelon team with a roster full of excellent players.” Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada stated after the match. “We realized in our study that if we were to be better on the pitch without showing it on the scoreboard, we would be in trouble. Any error we commit would cost us dearly because of the quality of Tigres’ players. And that is exactly what happened.” He concluded.
After the goal, Tigres were content to sit back and let Pachuca expend their energy looking for an equalizer. Despite having the bulk of the possession, Pachuca could not generate a chance that threatened Nahuel Guzmán’s goal.
Tigres await the winner of New England Revolution and New York City FC, who meet on Friday. The Round of 16 match will take place either August 12 or 13.
