Ozziel Herrera capped an impressive team play by scoring the first goal and Tigres UANL earned a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday at San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico, in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.
The two-game, total-goal matchup will conclude on April 15 in Seattle. The victorious team will oppose either Nashville SC or Club America in the semifinals.
With the game scoreless in the 51st minute, a long pass sent Tigres off on a counterattack. Tigres’ Fernando Gorriaran got under the ball, and his first touch was wayward, but a lucky bounce sent the ball off a defender and right back to him.
Gorriaran dribbled toward the center of the field, then dropped a back-heel pass to Herrera, who chipped a 12-yard shot over Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei and into the goal netting on the far side.
Tigres doubled the advantage on an own goal off a 76th-minute corner kick.
Toluca FC 4, Galaxy 2
Paulinho scored a hat trick as Toluca grabbed the first-leg advantage on Los Angeles in Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico.
The second leg is scheduled for April 15 in Carson, Calif., with the winning team drawing either Cruz Azul or Los Angeles FC in the semifinals.
Nicolas Castro opened the scoring for the hosts in the 12th minute, and Paulinho doubled the lead with a 43rd-minute volley from close range.
Gabriel Pec (66th minute from a sharp angle) and Marco Reus (77th) tallied for the Galaxy, but each time Paulinho responded for Toluca, scoring in the 73rd and 85th minutes. The final tally came when he hustled in front to block an L.A. clearance attempt, and Paulinho’s tackle sent the ball into the net.
–Field Level Media
