GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Jose Torres’ Tigres UANL may have played their best game of the season on Sunday at Estadio Azteca, but it wasn’t enough to stop the momentum of reigning Liga MX champions Club América, who knocked them out of the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Tigres came from behind with 10 players to tie 1-1 with Las Águilas in a battling performance, but América went through on away goals, having drawn 2-2 last weekend in the first leg in Monterrey.
Torres came on in the 73rd in central midfield, with the score already 1-1 and Tigres chasing the game after Hugo Ayala was sent off. The Texan turned and shot from the edge of the penalty area four minutes from time, with ‘keeper Moises Muñoz spilling the ball, but fortunately for him it fell to an América player to clear.
On Saturday in the Ascenso MX, there was more negative news for Americans south of the border. Sonny Guadarrama's and Ventura Alvarado’s Necaxa only managed a 1-1 tie at home to Universidad de Guadalajara in the playoff final in Aguascalientes to finish runners-up in the Apertura championship, after the Leones Negros had secured a 1-0 win in the first leg.
Guadarrama played the full 90 minutes, going close with efforts in the 36th minute and midway through the second half. He dropped back later on in the game to try and get on the ball and create chances as Necaxa piled forward. Defender Alvarado was an unused substitute for Los Rayos.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
