Photo Credit: Itzel Segura / Prost Amerika
By: Jonny Rico
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The reigning Liga MX champions Tigres UANL waited until the last possible moment but they have secured a playoff ticket. Tigres came into the final round of the regular season of the 2017 Clausura sitting in 8th place of the league table (final playoff spot). They needed a win in their visit to Queretaro in order to secure the playoff ticket for themselves and leave those chasing that final spot with no chance.
The champs took care of business in emphatic passion. With a 5-1 scoreline, Tigres beat home side Club Queretaro and will now enter the fight for the Liga MX championship looking to become only the third ever club to win back to back titles since the Mexican league went into short semester long seasons back in 1996.
Tigres knew what was at stake and came out firing on all cylinders. It did not take long for the visitors to make their pressure count and reflected on the score board. Only eight minutes of the match had gone by when French striker Andre Pierre-Gignac was in the right place in the right time and with the right amount of concentration to quickly take advantage of a poor Queretaro defensive clearness inside of the 6-yard box.
Luis Rodriguez made it 2-0 for the visitors with a blast into the top corner of the goal only five minutes later and Tigres seemed to be cursing. They let off the pressure after the two goal lead had been established and saw out the rest of the first half with ease.
The hosts made things interesting only two minutes into the second half. Former Vancouver Whitecaps Brazilian striker Camilo Sanvezzo got Queretaro on the board and made it a one goal game.
During my halftime chat I mentioned that if this was a one goal game Queretaro had a chance to play spoilers to the Liga MX champion, But saw the game already decided in Tigres’ favor with the two goal lead.
With the score at 2-1 Queretaro had the opportunity to spoil the party for Tigres at any given moment. That is why the very powerful Tigres squad once again stepped on the gas and accelerated forward with all of its force. Gignac looked to have a second goal in the night but his shot was blocked by Queretaro goalkeeper Thiago Volpi. But teammate Ismael Sosa was there ready for the rebound and once again gave Tigres the two goal.
The French striker would not be denied his again and in the 57th minute made it 4-1 for Tigres. With Queretaro down to 10-men Gignac completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute to close out the scoring at 5-1.
Tigres jumped from eight place in the league table. Depending on the Toluca-Santos match on Sunday afternoon Tigres could finish the 2017 Clausura season in either sixth or seventh place. Also depending on final result between Toluca and Santos, Tigres will face off against either Monterrey in a Clasico Regiomontano or Santos in the quarterfinals stage.
Regardless of where Tigres ends up in the table or who it faces once the playoff start, the reigning Liga MX champions are serious contenders to win the league title and become the third club to go back to back.
Liga MX
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