America and Tigres take advantage in the first legs of the Semifinals
America and Tigres, who finished first and third in the regular season of the Apertura 2023, won their away matches of the semifinals, beating San Luis and Pumas respectively.
America vs San Luis
The first match between America and Atletico San Luis turned out to be sufficient to determine the first finalist of the tournament. With a hefty 0-5, San Luis will have to do something that has yet to be done, that is coming back after being five goals down. Pumas in the Guardianes 2020 tournament came back from a then record four-goal difference defeat against Cruz Azul, while various teams such as Chivas against Cruz Azul in 2003, Tigres against America in 2005 and America against Tampico way back in 1985 came back from a three-goal difference. However five goals seems next to impossible, especially since most of these comebacks were completed at home turf, whereas San Luis will have to go to Mexico City to attempt the impossible, with the caveat that five goals don’t suffice, given their position in the table, so they must win by six goals.
The game, and maybe even the series, was completely finished at the 13’ when a great play between Julian Quiñonez and Alvaro Fidalgo was finished with a header by Henry Martin. This goal followed an even earlier one, which came at only the third minute with a long shot by Diego Valdez. At this point San Luis had to score three goals to aspire to reach the final, but the game truly was one-sided from then on.
The second half had to be slightly delayed due to an incessant rain, which in turn affected the pitch quality making it too loose. San Luis started playing better when Jurgen Damm came in from the bench. A few clear chances for San Luis probably made some fans reminisce of the last tournament, when San Luis gave America a run for their money, however this time around things were different. Just when San Luis was playing better, a second goal by the Chilean Valdez extinguished any hope for the local team.
From then on, America would have a field day with San Luis and in the last ten minutes, added time inclusive, scored two more goals, courtesy of Quiñones, that completely seem to have sealed this series.
UNAM vs Tigres
Pumas and Tigres faced each other for the fourth time in the Six-month tournament era, aka the Torneos Cortos. Tigres had the upper hand with 2 series won to one, including the Apertura 2015 Final. This storied rivalry also includes another final won by Tigres way back in 1978 with that legendary team that featured Tomas Boy, Osvaldo Batocletti, Geronimo Barbadillo and Walter Mantegazza among others.
The match itself proved to be leaned towards the Nuevo Leon team, although both teams came in with the intention of winning the game, it was Tigres who had more arguments to inflict damage. As it’s been customary during the tournament, and specially against Chivas in the quarter finals, Pumas goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez was instrumental for his team, pulling out some incredible saves such as one saving a header by Nico Ibañez a la Gordon Banks against Péle or Memo Ochoa against Neymar.
Pumas also put danger in Tigres’ goal, putting keeper Nahuel Guzman to work in various occasions, but were ultimately not effective in their attempts.
The second half saw a foolish red being shown to Pumas youngster Santiago Trigos, given that the foul came when the ball was in no danger zone for Pumas. If Tigres seemed the better team before, with a man advantage they solidified their advantageous position. Their goal came in just ten minutes after the red card, at the 73’, when Jesus Angulo took a shot outside of the box, following a corner kick. The shot was good, but perhaps Pumas keeper Gonzalez could have done more.
Pumas tried coming back but Tigres really put on a master class on how to manage a one goal advantage. This team has amassed a wealth of experience having won so many titles before, and despite their mature age, they still have that winning combination of enough stamina paired with bottomless experience.
Pumas kept trying, as their fans kept cheering on, knowing full well that the best chance to damage tigres was at C.U., however, the goal did not come. Pumas kept trying and towards the end of the game, at the 94’ minute, Jesus Molina took a beautiful bicycle kick that unfortunately for him, the ball came too close to Guzman, who successfully kept it. A thrilling game until the very end.
If America’s series is finished, the Tigres-Pumas one is everything but, despite the two goal difference (due to Tigres’ spot in the table), as we have reviewed here, it is not impossible to turn things around, and although the road is uphill for UNAM, everything will be decided at Nuevo Leon.
