Tigres (pictured) celebrates after earning its second Liga MX title in the last three seasons by overcoming visiting Club America on penalty kicks on December 25, 2016, in San Nicolas de los Garza. (Photo: Tomas Palacios/Straffon Images)
SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, Mexico – After reaching a third Liga MX final in the last five seasons, Tigres lifted the 2016 Apertura trophy at home on Sunday.
The two-match series against Club America ended 2-2 on aggregate and was decided through a penalty shootout, which UANL won, 3-0, thanks to three saves by goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.
“This is vintage Tigres. We are going to make history,” said the Jurgen Damm, whose assist on Jesus Dueñas’ 119th-minute goal leveled the second leg at 1-1. “This is for Tigres’ fan base, Mexico’s best. I think that this team is going for great things. We already have two championships (including the 2015 Apertura). We are looking for more and looking to add to this team’s history.”
It was Tigres’ fifth domestic title, including three under current head coach Ricardo Ferretti.
What can UANL do to add more silverware to an already growing display case?
Here’s a list of possible objectives:
- Capture the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions crown for the first time … Tigres fell in the 2015/16 final to Club America (agg: 1-4), but can take a step towards continental glory by beating Pumas in their 2016/17 quarterfinal pairing, which starts on February 22 at the Estadio Universitario.
- Become the first team to repeat as Liga MX champion since Leon (2013 Apertura, 2014 Clausura) … Tigres’ last opportunity to earn consecutive championships came in the 2016 Clausura, but after an eighth-place finish in the regular season, it was eliminated by rival Monterrey in the quarterfinals (agg: 3-4). Prior to Leon, only Pumas (Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004) repeated in the 2000s.
- Attain the best-ever placement by a CONCACAF representative at the FIFA Club World Cup … If Tigres was to win the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, it would also book a ticket to the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. No CONCACAF side has ever finished higher than third in 13 editions of the competition, with Necaxa (2000), Saprissa (2005) and Monterrey (2012) doing so once each.
