There are three InterLiga titles between Tigres UANL and Club America. So when these successful sides meet on Tuesday night at Pizza Hut Park in InterLiga 2009, it promises to be something special. America won last year's event while Tigres remains the only team ever to win multiple InterLigas after prevailing in both 2005 and 2006.
In 2007, these teams met in the InterLiga finals in a hard-fought affair. After 90 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtimes, the match remained scoreless and went to penalty kicks. America prevailed and punched their ticket for Copa Libertadores while Tigres was heartbroken.
Tigres finished the recently-concluded 2008 Apertura with a 7-5-5 mark and 26 points. Their goal differential was an impressive +7 but they saw their run end in the opening round of the playoffs at the hands of Atlante, who sent them home on penalty kicks in the deciding second leg of their series. Tigres opened InterLiga 2009 with a 0-0 draw against Atlas on Saturday night in Houston.
One of their top players, Blas Perez, who had four goals last season, has departed for CF Pachuca, but the offensive cupboard is far from bare for the guys from Monterrey. Argentine midfielder Lucas Lobos had eight goals and two assists this season while striker Francisco Fonseca chipped in four assists and newly-signed Paraguayan striker Ariel "Corea" Bogado, who came over from Atlas, had seven goals for his new club.
Another name who warrants mentioning is defender Jose Castro, who comes to Tigres after a nice showing at America. Castro's addition makes an already formidable backline even tougher to break down. During the 2008 Apertura, Tigres tied for the second strongest defense in the Primera Division.
While Tigres has had their share of success in the Primera Division in 2008, that was not the case for America, who struggled and missed the playoffs. However, this is clearly a team in transition from a veteran-laden squad to one infused with young talent. Still, this is a team that earlier in 2008, made it to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores.
Talented striker Robert de Pinho, a Brazilian product who had five goals in 17 games while on loan to Tecos, is back. He had a goal in a 2-1 win over Toluca on InterLiga 2008 on January 6.
Other key holdovers for the Aguilas are midfielder Alejandro Arguello, who had two assists in the 2008 Apertura and also scored three times in last year's InterLiga. Forward/midfielder Salvador Cabanas had six goals last season, giving him 39 since 2006 and also found the back of the net three times in InterLiga 2008.
Another player to watch is Chilean striker Jean Beausejour, who signed a three-year deal with the Aguilas in early December. Beausejour, who had 13 goals in 34 games for Chilean side O'Higgins before joining America, has also played in Switzerland and has seen time with his country's national team on 12 occasions.
In America's 1-1 draw with Chivas on Saturday, it was Beausejour who quickly showed his value when he put his new side up 1-0 with his first goal for America in the 37th minute. That edge lasted until the 56th minute when the Red and White drew one back to tie things at one goal apiece.
The Aguilas are 2-0-0 in InterLiga matches at Pizza Hut Park. On Jan. 6, 2008, America got goals from Arguello and Robert in a 2-0 win over Toluca. And on Jan. 7, 2007, two goals from Cuauhtemoc Blanco propelled the Aguilas to a 2-0 victory over Morelia.
On Aug. 31, 2008, these sides met for the only time in the 2008 Apertura at Azteca Stadium. Tigres responded with a 3-1 win over America. Tuesday's match is set for a 7:00 p.m. and will be televised live on Fox Sports en Espanol.
