Tigres qualified to Copa Libertadores 2005 for the first time in club history after a 2-0 win over Toluca in the InterLiga finals on Wednesday night in Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. After the Chivas victory over Jaguares, Tigres was assured the direct spot into Libertadores.
After an even game, the fans were entertained with great opportunities from the start. The first goal came from Tigres in the 16th minute, from a free kick shot by Irenio Soares with his left foot.
In the 70th minute, Tigres doubled the store to 2-0 with a goal by Javier Saavedra, who took advantage of a mistake by Paolo Da Silva, the ball landing on the feet of Saavedra, who shot into the goal of Hernan Cristante.
Tigres awaited the 120 minutes of play plus the penalty kicks between the Chivas and Jaguares game to learn of their direct passage to Libertadores with Chivas' win over Jaguares. Tigres now faces Banfield of Argentina, Caracas of Venezuela and Alianza Lima of Peru in the first phase of group stage of Libertadores.
InterLiga.com Player of the Game: Irenio Soares (Tigres)
Toluca vs. Tigres - InterLiga 2005
Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - Reliant Stadium - Houston, TX
7:00 p.m. (local)
Scoring Summary:
TIG - Soares 16'
TIG - Saavedra 70'
Lineups:
TIG - Rogelio Rodríguez; Claudio Suarez, Omar Briceño, Hugo Sanchez; Javier Saavedra, Irenio Soares (Peralta 86'), Walter Gaitan (Montano 83'), Jesús Olalde (Vazquez 90+), Antonio Sancho, Mario Ruiz; Carlos Morales
TOL - Hernan Cristante, Mario Mendez, Paulo Da Silva, Gilberto Jiménez, Manuel de la Torre, Edgar Duenas (Amaury 46'), Israel Lopez, Paulo Cesar Chavez (Abundis 54'), Antonio Matias Naelson, Jose Cardozo, Vicente Sanchez (Escobar 54)
Referee: Brian Hall (USA)
Assistants: Greg Barkey (USA); Chris Strickland (USA)
Fourth Official: Kevin Terry (USA)
Attendance: 28,112
