GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Tigres striker Herculez Gomez believes the Liga MX semifinal against Toluca will come down to which team shows more heart.
“Everyone knows the talent is there – for some reason we are both in the playoffs – but in these moments it’s about who wants it more,” Gomez told reporters in Monterrey earlier this week in Spanish in widely published quotes.
Gomez started the first leg of the quarterfinal against Pachuca and came off the bench in the return game and is in line to be involved in Thursday’s semifinal first leg at Estadio Nemesio Díez (8 p.m. ET, Univision Deportes).
Both sides have been in good form this season, but Tigres are on an unbeaten run of 12 matches and defeated Toluca 2-1 when the two met on Nov. 22 in the regular season.
“The playoffs are another tournament, it starts again,” stressed Gomez. “They are confident because they defeated a complicated rival like Jaguares [in the quarters]. We know it won’t be easy.”
Texan midfielder Jose Torres has established himself as a firm starter for Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti’s team this season and is also set to feature in the semifinal.
Both Americans are also likely to play a part in next season’s Copa Libertadores, with Tigres drawn on Tuesday in a group alongside Argentine giant River Plate, Bolivia’s San José and whichever team wins the second Peruvian spot.
In the other Liga MX semifinal, an injury to Club América’s Paul Aguilar could open the door to playing time for Phoenix, Ariz. native Ventura Alvarado, who featured at right back in Las Aguilas’ final regular season game against Atlas in the place of the Mexico international.
América travels to Monterrey to face Los Rayados, also on Thursday (10 p.m. ET, Univision Deportes).
In Mexico’s Under-20s league, Club Tijuana hosts Chivas in Estadio Caliente on Thursday (11:30 p.m. ET) in the semifinal first leg.
Up to seven Americans could see minutes, with Alejandro Guido, Stevie Rodriguez, Paul Arriola, John Requejo, Raul Rodriguez, Fernando Arce, Jr. and Amando Moreno all playing in the quarterfinal.
