0-1: Tigres lead in the quarterfinals

He tigers de México made a solid move to the quarterfinals of Concacaf Champions League by losing 0-1 motagua of Honduras, in the first leg contested in San Pedro Sula, northern Honduras.

The first half was back and forth, with Águilas del Motagua looking to get ahead, against an opponent that also wanted to score early. Motagua played a fast, organized game in their lines, but their attackers, Eddie Hernández and Iván López, were off the mark.

In the 9th minute, Motagua goalkeeper Marlon Licona blocked a powerful shot from Nicolás López. Los Tigres played quick football, with Diego Lainez and André Pierre Gignac getting into the area, but not much freedom due to rival Honduran marking.

Licona, in another great intervention, prevented his goal from falling by blocking a shot from André Pierre Gignac in the 30th minute. The Mexican club, who forced the last ten minutes of the first half, took the lead in the 43rd minute. by Colombian Luis Quiñones, who finished off a ball denied by Licona after a corner kick.

In the second half, the two teams came out with the same intensity, with Motagua forced to return, but with the Tigres taking greater risks and possession of the ball. In the 47th minute, Licona caught a direct shot from outside the area by Nicolás López, and in the 50th minute, with another great save, he sent a new attack from the visiting team to in the corner kick.

The few occasions where Motagua reached the Tigres area in his attempt to save the game were delayed by the rival defence, which was less busy than in the first half. The Mexican team sought to increase the score with counterattack plays, forcing Motagua to give itself more on defense.

In the 70th minute, Motagua made their five substitutions, but their attack did not improve, and they were not able to make a direct shot at the opponent’s goal. The defeat leaves Motagua, who travel to Mexico next week for the second leg forced to return against a Tigres with a double goal advantage as a visitor.