3 things we learned from Pachuca’s 1-1 draw with UANL Tigres

UANL Tigres are heading home with an away goal, but they don’t have quite the stranglehold on this quarterfinal tie that they should have. Pachuca stole a stoppage time goal, grabbing a 1-1 draw in the Liguilla opener.

Pachuca got off to a very strong start and probably should have scored in the early going. Nahuel Guzman tipped a Rodrigo Salinas stinger over the bar in the 11th minute, then Aquivaldo Mosquera badly missed an open header that he should have put on target off the ensuing free kick.

Tigres were able to settle in after that, and there were very few scoring chances for both teams. The rest of the half was very physical, with the visitors looking like the more dangerous team whenever they were able to get out on the break, though they didn’t really test Oscar Perez.

Hernan Burbano replaced Herculez Gomez for Tigres to start the second half, and that move paid immediate dividends. Burbano beat two defenders with a brilliant run down the right flank in the 49th minute before playing a cross towards the back post. Joffre Guerron and Salinas met the ball at the same time, and it bundled into the net. It wasn’t clear if it was Guerron’s goal or an own goal, but it wasn’t Salinas’ fault, even if it does count against him.

Tigres kept Pachuca’s chances somewhat limited after that, but they weren’t exactly great at holding onto their lead. Hugo Ayala hauled down Hirving Lozano from behind in the 67th minute and could have seen a red card for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity, but the referee opted to just show yellow. Pachuca thought they had an equalizer in the 80th minute, but Abraham Carreño’s goal was called back for offside.

The Tuzo’s eventual equalizer came in stoppage time, and though the way they scored was a bit harsh on Tigres, Pachuca will definitely think that they earned a draw. Jurgen Damm tried to cut back the ball for a teammate from the endline, but never found one. Instead, he hit the leg of Ayala, and the ball bundled over the line.

Pachuca: Perez, Ayovi, Mosquera, Rodriguez, Salinas, Gutierrez, Hernandez (Hurtado 61’), Damm, Villalpando (Buonanotte 54’), Lozano, Nahuelpán (Carreño 54’)

Goals: Ayala (OG 90’)

Tigres: Guzman, Dueñas (Estrada 82’), Ayala, Juninho, Torres Nilo, Torres, Rios, Alvarez, Lugo (Pizarro 46’), Gomez (Burbano 46’), Guerron

Goals: Guerron (49’)

1. Pachuca needed to do better with their start - In the first 15 minutes, Pachuca was able to control possession and generate some decent chances, but they weren’t able to turn that into a goal. Once Tigres settled in and started looking more dangerous on the counter, Pachuca’s chances and composure in midfield dried up. This could have been a much different tie if Pachuca did something with those early chances, or maintained control through the first half.

2. Tuca Ferretti’s halftime sub changed everything - Starting Herculez Gomez made some sense for Tigres. They weren’t trying to control the game, but break on the counter. Gomez provides both some finishing from the wing and a good, tall outlet for long balls. But he was ineffective, so Tuca brought on Hernan Burbano, who only needed four minutes to set up Tigres’ goal.

3. Hugo Ayala still hasn’t achieved his former level - Ayala was good enough for Tigres this season that Mexico manager Miguel Herrera called him into fall friendlies, but he hasn’t quite been the same player that he was before injuries that kept him out of Herrera’s early squads and World Cup team. He was responsible for a bad foul that could have resulted in a red card, plus the own goal. Tigres might be the best team in the league by some distance if he was the league’s top central defender again.