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After a brief pause, a little bit of composure from Hany Mukhtar is underway. Tigres and LA back at home, back in gold it is Nashville SC changing to blue. A 1-0 win for Tigres in Tennessee a week ago. Meaning that they just need a win or a draw at home to advance. Nashville have to win this game. They would be coming in so doing the first MLS team ever to win a game in this stadium, Estadio Universitario, but of course a few weeks ago they did the same thing in Mexico City becoming the first MLS team ever to win a game at Estadio Azteca. They knocked out Club America in the quarterfinal.
Tigres are trying to get back to a Champions Cup final for the first time since 2020 when they won the title. They're trying to knock out MLS opposition for a third consecutive round. Correa That was blocked there by Palacios. Gallo just sweeping it wide across for Jesus Garza. See Correa with his arms up calling for it. Instead the cross in, takes an awkward deflection and that is going to be a free kick. It is going to be a handball just outside the box as well. Tonight it's Juan Brunetta set to take the ensuing free kick from the handball. Chara has to be aware here at the near post. He's don't put past Brunetta trying to find this one.
Brunetta into a great spot. Aguirre was close to it. It's a goal kick. He had 19 goals as well to take. He scored over the weekend against Guadalajara. His outswinging corner remake rewinding only man there at the near post will do it again. And then What happened there? It was like a goblin grabbed that ball just before Brunetta struck it. Brunetta is going look at the corner spot over there. Intercepted by Baker-Whiting. Will can't get to the loose ball though.
Rios trying to turn it inside. Woolwich is there with the tackle. Unable to turn out. It's a nice ball in for Espinoza. Woolwich is going to continue his run forward here. Espinoza wants it himself. Pulls it wide. First shot of the game for either side 10 minutes in. That's a nice run for them. issue with one of their players. There were signals to the bench about making a substitution as it comes inside. Popped in the air by Palacios. So, that was Woolwich in fact. Rios trying to win it back and he holds down Corcoran. Important player. He'll keep playing incredible game I thought the first leg where he was a right wing back. He would tuck inside
at five times but would find the game all the time. So, early change that they've had to make. That's probably fair in the sense the home team Zan the head coach has mastered the art of the match day minus one press conference being friendly, engaging, conversational, and saying absolutely nothing. Is that out for a block ball out? Burnett picks IT UP. ACCAM PULLS it wide. A potentially disastrous moment there from Jason Palacios ends up out for another goal kick. This month. He had to missed it there.
Cesar Ulloa battling with Mukhtar. Hooked away by Mondragon and that'll set up Nashville here in the attacking half. It's Christian Espinoza. Here's the defender Flores for company. Espinosa got the cross away, no one there in a blue shirt. Flores showed too much of it to Corcoran. Corcoran's cross, it's going to find Madrigal. He couldn't get it under control. And then he commits a foul on Angulo. Oh, good chance there. Just couldn't quite settle the ball, Madrigal. It's a chorus of frustration from the fans. Garza for Correa across the defending.
Correa able to knock it away, and that will in fact be a Tigres throw. This is Garza was suspended the first leg. It was the first game he missed since November. And that's going to be an offside flag there. Octavio Canchola, the assistant referee, was sharp on that one with Correa coming back from an offside position. Hold that for Acosta. Acosta will let it rip. Takes an awkward deflection. Ripples the roof of the net, and that'll be out for an Asheville corner, their first of the night. Wow, Guzman was scrambling. I don't think he was anywhere near this. But this
deflection is a long way out. Is that part of the body does that come off as well? There's an extended arm. I couldn't tell if it was an arm or off the thigh. There might be a shout for a handball here. The video assistant referee, looks like he's checked through it. Espinosa's ready. And it skips off the top of Pulido's head. Correa able to track it down. All right, we have Chase here on Shquaki. He's not going to mess around. He is getting full contact on those. So, he's going to go long. That might work for Mondragón. It does. Can he bring down a bouncing ball? Mondragón and it gets knocked away from him and
you got two Tigres players down. It was on Gudo, the second man, that Mondragón hit as he was swinging through. Mondragón is down. It's Romelo to find the ball, then ends up finding it. Great touch off the chest. The ball he's just waiting for it to settle. There's contact to the face there, so I think even had this gone ahead, there was two separate fouls. The And then the second one where he's trying to get the strike and Romelo made a great challenge, really brave challenge coming across, getting his body in front. But the first real look at the game for Mondragón off just a long ball. They have to win if they're going to make their first ever Champions Cup final in just their second appearance in this competition.
Off of the first trophy in club history last fall on the U.S. Open Cup. All right, Shquaki not seeing any good options around him. Yeah, that was a good decision. He looked like he wanted to force that ball in and there was just nothing. And he was hesitating, hesitating, and then opted to go long. Mondragon now, a little pocket of space for him to run into. It closes down cleanly. He's clipped off of Angulo. And this is going to be a free kick now for Nashville. Also, that should be a yellow card. And it's going to be for Angulo. And what a positive ball. Just running at that back line. It looked like he really didn't have any other options. He had one player to his left. Couldn't to be
in this moment. To be in a semi-final of a Champions Cup. And now after the hard running of Mondragon, it's Hany Mukhtar stands over the ensuing free kick. Mukhtar got the ball and put it back down. It's Hany Mukhtar. Really good position there. Trying to get it up and down over the wall. It's going to come back for a foul there. That initial tackle on Aguirre looked like. It's a yellow that's coming together in this game.
Expect a fair bit of stoppage time. We've had two long stoppages in this first half. Espinosa popping up in the middle. Hany Mukhtar now. Nahar, that's a great ball. And Nahar from the byline cuts it in front. Guzman kicked it away. Muyl comes in to make contact. Decision on the field looks to be a corner kick. As Guzman Referee Mario Escobar asks for a corner. Well, the timing of the run is excellent. They're getting Nahar wide, high. But it's the same story. Now, I'm not sure who actually makes the contact
as we're covered. Five added minutes of which we've played none so far. Second corner of the game for Nashville. Espinoza to take. He's ball headed to the near post, POPPED IN THE AIR, AND IT COMES SIDEWAYS. THAT WAS ALMOST an own goal. We'll do it again. Well, as Baker Whiting got to the first one, and very important in these situations get across that near post. Beat that man.
Foots it in, and you're right, that was close to Nashville. Ball could have been anybody's after that deflection, and now here we go. Espinoza who came out over after being the San Jose Earthquakes all-time assist leader. Again at the near post, Aguirre's there. Very good spell though for Nashville. Willis under pressure from Correa. That's how quickly it can be snuffed out though. Leal Puts it away quick just off the foot there of Palacios who stayed forward.
Tswelopele was on his own there. Somewhere you can't hear right now, BJ Callahan absolutely screaming at the top of his lungs trying to get his center back to his position. attention on some of these set pieces that Nashville almost found a way, almost found a goal. And they haven't really been able to create anything in this game, Tigres. And here they come now. It's going to bring that down, and Palacios just grabbing him trying to not let him by. That's a silly moment there from Palacios. Cuz he's going nowhere. He doesn't need to make the foul there now because now Right here, he's going nowhere. You've got him facing the sideline. You've got support on the inside.
Just hacking away, taking an extra touch or something here towards the end of the half. Burnett's at 15 assists this season. Just clip this up, it's popped straight in the air. Montragón it comes sideways, knocked down. Aguirre trying to turn, he's got floor as couldn't get full contact behind it. That's the first shot on goal for either team tonight, 50 minutes in. So, we could have another, in theory, 2 minutes, but we'll see. Only Escobar knows. Polster, Cochran. Will able to bring it down, finds Montragón. Espinoza now.
Christian Espinoza hooks a cross in and Guzmán as he's colliding with Romulo, able to hold on to that ball. That will be the end of the first half. Chances for both teams, nothing decided yet. Robin Alexi on the other side with their thoughts. 45 minutes down, 45 to go in Mexico in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal. No score on the night, Tigres lead Nashville 1-0 on aggregate. Since they lost Patrick Yazbek in the warm-up, and indeed it is Marcelo Flores who comes off at the half. It's Herrera who's missing. Romulo Correa Will it be That's a strong tackle there, and then a cross is pulled down.
10th different MLS team to do so. Remember, we've had MLS teams in the Champions Cup final each of the last four years. Hany Mukhtar coming is off Mukhtar takes a hard bump from Angulo. That will rule out the contact at least from a free kick standpoint because it is offside. But Angulo already on a yellow certainly put his shoulder into Hany Mukhtar. Let's see if Yeah, Mukhtar just going a little bit too early. As that ball looped over, absolutely a foul. Corcoran there to help. This is where they got to be careful. Mukhtar Corcoran miscontrolled. Burnetta spins away.
Correa loose touch. It's tricky that was last off Baker Whiting. Strong header win by Romo. Muyl tangle of legs with Garces. Free kick Nashville. Another frustrating Tigres though, some of these little moments where they're able to get their ball in. Espinoza able to turn, hooked away from behind, could get back to it. Romo stepping in. Another chance for Tigres to come the other way. Here's Andre Correa in space. Lovitz the defender. Correa will get rid of it quick into the middle.
He was in between options. Sanchez outdueled by Nahar for the second ball. Reyes picks it up. Sanchez on the turn. Jesus Garza urged to shoot. Hands it off instead. ANDRE CORREA KNOCKED away by Lovitz. Cleared away by Muyl. Romo wins the header. Corcoran battling hard for the ball in the air. Mondragón for Muyl couldn't return it clean. Correa once again for Tigres. Garza Burnetta Correa Garza cut off and fouls Baker Whiting. Yeah, well done defensively. Couple of different times there for Nashville.
Blocking that cross that got just fired across. Bodies in front. Able to make a clearance. And then Baker Whiting's having a good game I feel on that left-hand side. Just his positioning little bit wide that time but recognizes, "Okay, I've got to close that gap. I've got to get my body in front of Correa. Fahr off the throw. Gignac with an uncontested header away. Just clips it forward. A little bit of a hesitation there. Palacios mis-times the bounce. Willis Jr. in a footrace with Aguirre. He's going to win. Fahr to drive it inside. It's a big tackle and an important one to Fahr. Back to his feet trying to get the ball out of there. Another tough challenge.
No foul either way. Both players are down. Correa comes out of there with the ball. Nashville don't have a right back right now. They're trying to readjust on the fly. Damian Sanchez coming forward. Sanchez on Correa. Hands it off wide. Reyes deflected. CORREA SHOT. HE'S STAYING AT HOME. Baker Whiting wins the header over Aguirre. And out for a Tigres corner. Well, the intensity of the game now has definitely ratcheted up and you have starts with the tackle in the middle of the field. And then Anibal goes crunching in. Both players down.
Counterattack continues. Deflected ball to the back post but once again, check complete. Gignac's night is done. It's not Andre-Pierre Gignac who replaces him. It is Diego Lainez. Career year for him. Huge ovation. These fans think he should He's on the field now. Third sub of the game for Tigres. Anibal Reyes is back out there after receiving treatment a moment ago. Brunetta with a great flick. Correa now setting up front. Brunetta's on the run. He's got Diego Lainez. Lainez's first touches of the game since coming ON AS A SUB. ROLLS it in front. It's popped in the air. And unless there's an offside flag that
Palacios wants, there is not. It's out for a corner. I think Correa just stopped expecting Andre Blake defending. Gets across him and instead he goes for it. We've seen him get caught in transition. Nashville in that game opening up. And it's Ulloa once again to take the corner. The near post, it comes sideways. Goal kick in the end, last off Reyes. He's not arrived yet to Mexico's World Cup camp, it may not start tomorrow. They're on the practice field in Toluca this evening. They will play in the game tomorrow night.
Lainez knocked away by Baker Whiting, but it falls to Vihaan. Willis intercepts. Out of play for Hany Mukhtar, so a big one tomorrow night here on FS1. Mukhtar was fouled by his old friend, Orbelín once again. on level terms with a spot in the final, May 30th on the line. Espinoza was trying to clip that along there. Corcoran had made the run. One total shot on goal tonight, 10 total attempts between the two teams. Espinoza gave that right to Correa. It's a foot race and Schwarzer was alert. He slices the clearance sideways. So, the threat isn't over yet. It's
taken quick off the throw, Correa. Palacios fell down. Acosta trying to recover. Brunetta! Might just have slammed it home. Shot for Tigres. And it's the fine margins at this level with a team like Tigres with just so much quality. They can finish off a play. This comes from Espinoza. Just plays an air pass in the back. Nashville have possession. But Tigres are switched on. They win the ball up. It's knocked out for a throw. They get the ball in quickly. It's laid off from Correa. Brunetta arriving at the right time and just hammers that ball at the near post.
Correa just has the awareness that he's the open man. I think he ends up taking this with his toe maybe. No, instep. Just a beautiful finish. Tough one from Shawcross. Not much time to be able to react, but Brunetta's been largely quiet throughout the game, but it doesn't matter. When he gets that one chance in front of goal, absolutely buries it. Shirts are off. Little man's fired up. And so are this crowd. Fifth that comes from an assist by Angel Correa. Brian Acosta will be subbed off. It is kitchen sink time for Nashville. Shaq Moore Hamid first year player. And like the second goal Tigres scored
against Seattle in the home leg of the quarterfinal, it's a self-inflicted wound. If Espinoza brings that down, hands it back. Passi is in front. Stabbed in the air by Angulo. Nashville get a corner as the stands are bouncing at Estadio Universitario. Espinoza's corner. Three Nashville players in the area none of them jump for it. Hard running by Hand Roldan to keep it in play and get back to it. Last man back Corrales.
Now Teal Bunbury looking to really slam the door shut. Here's Diego Sanchez running into Hard. Sanchez to the byline clipping it across onto the roof of the net. Hany Mukhtar and Abu Danladi. Now that Nashville are really putting so many more numbers into the attack. They've centered by Danladi. Walker Zimmerman free kick Nashville. Christian Espinoza blocked by the wall. Walker Zimmerman first to the loose ball retreats all the way to Shaqiri.
A little quickly taken throw in. That is the difference at this level and Correa trying to take Palacios off the ball almost able to do so. Can Nacho find a way to get it back? He's kind of working his way through and Diego Sanchez takes it back. Diego Sanchez running forward. Hands it off. Angel Correa and Walker Zimmerman is there to deal with it. Whistle though behind the play. And Sanchez is down. And his library is he's given the Tigres team some real industry. He stops moving. Positivity off the dribble. You can see clearly
Palacios dangling out that leg. It ends up being the foul as he was looking for the one-two to get it back from Angel Correa. Diego Lainez stand over it. And it's Correa. It's deflected by the wall out for a corner. Correa, the goal in the first leg, the assist in the second leg. That's what you pay 11 million dollars for a player that's spent a decade playing at Atletico Madrid and was part of Argentina's World Cup winning team in Qatar. Lainez off the short corner. He'll hook this one into the middle. Just too tall for Romo. Walker Zimmerman is down in pain holding his left shoulder.
Hany Mukhtar now. Just lost control of it. The team's going to come in. Same move they made in the second half last week. Yep. Mukhtar appears 215 in his Nashville career. Correa is he's immediately defending on Diego Lainez. Hands it inside for Garza. His cross took a deflection and almost found Pizarro. It does find Reyes and it just fizzes up over the crossbar. in the last 3 months. Why not at this point? With the quality they have. Was this their best game we've seen? No, absolutely not. Might find a second. They're going to get on the run. They're 3 V 2 right now off of the attacking throw-in for Nashville.
The bodies are flooding forward. Correa blocked by Wall out for a corner. Andre-Pierre Gignac to take his time. What an incredible signing he's been this season for Tigres. They've moved on from some club legends. Rodríguez in January. Correa last summer. Not missed a beat. 5 minutes to go. Correa whipped in on frame, but just over the roof of the net. He's going for the open goal. Cut off there by Guerrero. Fúnez reverses it. Mukhtar. And Arriola stepped in there. Trying to play for Aké Loba Khalfan. Three added minutes at a starting on Universitario. And this controlled out by Garza.
Aké returns for Espinoza. Aké Loba now blocked off the ball by Guerrero. Tigres win it back before there's any sort of a threat. Step by Palacios. He looked to a long run to get there. Can't turn the corner on Rodolfo. Awesome. Corcoran. Palacios pulled down off it. Don't underestimate how big a moment this is for Tigres to be the first time they get to the Champions Cup final since 2020 when they won the whole thing. That was in an empty stadium in Orlando in the midst of the pandemic. They could
potentially host the final this year. They've lost in two semi-finals since including a year ago. Palacios showing his frustration. I don't know about that. There are just a couple of There was a whistle for the first one. He made sure he got the second one. An opportunity here for This would be quite the punctuation mark. DIEGO LAINEZ outside netting. Finishing. Quality. Just a moment. For Tigres, it look their approach under Gignac Pizarro was very measured. They didn't go for it for the
first minute, but they really any point of the game they didn't open up defensively. They stayed back, they stayed patient, and they waited to pounce, and they pounced, they got that goal, and that was it, but you talk about Nashville over the course of the two series, no goals for them. 2-0 on aggregate, and it was the difference in the final third. That is ultimately what has decided this series. It's a Nashville corner. We've reached the 3 minutes. See if Mario Escobar will allow it to be taken. He will. The biggest thing Nashville really would do is potentially aid LAFC in their hopes to host the final if they can pop a goal in here.
To the back post, headed away, Mario Escobar thinking about it. And he will. End of the game, and Tigres, for the first time in 6 years, will play in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
