The Mexican side were without key stars including star Andre Pierre-Gignac and were stunned by the Nicaraguan minnows
Tigres lost 1-0 against Real Esteli in the first legThe Mexican giants were without several regular starsSecond leg takes place on February 12 at the Estadio UniversitarioAFPWHAT HAPPENED
Nicaraguan side Real Esteli stunned Liga MX giants tigres in leg one of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie Wednesday evening.
Despite being without ten first team players, fans expected Tigres to easily win. However, instead, things went in the opposite direction as the Nicaraguan side dominated the game from the get. They had chance after chance and were only kept at bay thanks to some good defending and goalkeeping.
But Real Esteli’s pressure eventually paid off as Francisco Grahl managed to find the net with just seven minutes of normal time left on the clock. And while the Mexican side tried to find an equalizer, luck simply wasn’t on their side despite a few good chances for Nicolas Ibanez and Fernando Ordonez. It meant that Real Esteli pulled off a historic victory as they shocked the footballing world.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT VELJKO PAUNOVIC HAD TO SAY
The Tigres head coach, Veljko Paunovic, walked into the game under pressure after a 1-0 loss to Toluca, despite dropping points just once in their previous four league games. Not only that, he was further subjected to criticism after Real Esteli boss Byron Bonilla was aggrieved at the fact that their opponents on the night would be without key players, who had been rested for the clash. However, following the 1-0 loss, Paunovic was very upset with his squad and hit out against them, admitting that they weren't good enough on the night.
Paunovic said, “The result is not unattainable. We lacked the final pass, the realization of many possessions that reached the rival area. We were very thick in the final third, and that can cost you in these games, especially when you have a player lying on the field, who is injured, and the rival takes advantage of the advantageous situation to score the goal, which is the final score."
AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
This is not the first time Real Esteli have pulled off an upset at home, as the Nicaraguan side have beaten Club America and Saprissa multiple times in the past. They have a rich history of success on their home ground and when combined with major absences in the Tigres’ team, it saw the Liga MX side struggle to lay a finger on their opponents.
So much so, that Paunovic’s side didn’t have a shot on target in the first half, becoming the first Mexican club to do so since March 2024. Furthermore, the loss also extends Tigres' poor away record in the Concacaf Champions Cup to five games without a win, the longest run in the tournament since the current format began in 2008. The Liga MX side’s last away win was in 2023, a 1-0 victory over FC Motagua.
Getty Images SportWHAT LIES AHEAD FOR TIGRES?
The Mexican side face Atlas at home in the league before their Round 1 second leg in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Real Esteli. This game does take place on February 12 at the Estadio Universitario which does give Tigres a slight advantage as they play in front of their own fans. The aggregate winner of the clash will advance to the Round of 16.