Tigres UANL remained unbeaten this season and moved into first place with a 2-1 victory over Puebla. The loss is a second consecutive one for the Poblanos.
Puebla started the game off well, as they played intelligently and limited Tigres’ space to maneuver. The visitors pushed forward while remaining well-organized in the back, and the universitarios couldn’t figure out how to break them down.
Jerónimo Amione appeared to have given Puebla the lead just past the half-hour mark, but the would-be goal was – after some delay – disallowed for offside. Then, in the 40th minute, Francisco Torres was called for a foul on André-Pierre Gignac in the box and referee Paul Delgadillo pointed to the penalty spot.
Gignac stepped up to take the PK and he converted it to make it 1-0 just before halftime.
Puebla was given a penalty of their own in the second half, after Guido Pizarro was called for a handball in the box in the 63rd minute. Matías Alustiza converted the spot kick to make it 1-1.
With the score level, both teams pressed forwards as they looked to take the lead. Both goalkeepers were kept busy, although Cristian Campestrini had more to do. The Puebla netminder made save after save until the 80th minute, when Javier Aquino’s shot to the far post got through to make it 2-1 for Tigres.
With the 2-1 win, Tigres reach 19 points while Puebla remains on nine.
Highlights
Lineups
Tigres: Nahuel Guzmán, Jorge Torres Nilo, Juninho, Hugo Ayala, Jesús Dueñas, Lucas Zelarayán (Manuel Viniegra 82′), José Francisco Torres (Damián Álvarez 66′), Javier Aquino, Guido Pizarro, Ismael Sosa (Andy Delort 77′), André-Pierre Gignac.
Puebla: Cristian Campestrini, Carlos Orrantía, Héctor Schmidt, Patricio Araujo, Robert Herrera, Óscar Rojas, David Toledo (Christian Bermúdez 46′), Francisco Torres (Álvaro Navarro 83′) Damián Escudero, Jerónimo Amione (Eduardo Pérez 90′), Matías Alustiza.
