MIAMI, Florida – Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday night will be the site for a wide open second leg in the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series between Orlando City SC and Tigres of Liga MX.
The two teams battled to a 0-0 draw in the first leg, leaving things as a toss-up going into the second 90 minutes of the two-legged tie.
While this is the first time these two teams have played each other in the SCCL, Tigres are quite familiar with Exploria Stadium. It was at Orlando City’s home ground where Tigres won their only SCCL crown, defeating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the Final of the 2020 edition.
In the history of the SCCL, the match-up between teams from Liga MX and MLS has been largely dominated by Mexican clubs, who own a 52W-18D-24L record against their North American rivals.
Yet in the previous four editions of the SCCL, the Round of 16 series between teams from Liga MX and MLS have produced four wins from four series for MLS teams. Orlando City will be keen to make it five, and they will require another big performance from GK Pedro Gallese, who had nine saves in the first leg.
The attack will also need to generate some scoring chances, and the impetus will fall to creative playmaker Facundo Torres and attacker Martin Ojeda, who led the team in shots with four in the first leg.
Tigres have an abundance of weapons as well, beginning with FW Nicolas Ibanez, who already has two goals this season in Liga MX. Helping the cause is 2020 SCCL champion Rafael Carioca, who completed 65 passes in the first leg, and pesky MF Fernando Gorriaran, who took four shots in the first leg.
Game Notes, Stats Orlando City vs. Tigres
Match Officials
Referee: Said Martinez (HON)
AR1 Walter Lopez (HON) AR2 Henri Pupiro (NCA)
4th Official Selvin Brown (HON)
VAR Tatiana Guzman (NCA)
AVAR Shirley Perello (HON)
