Tigres players and staff (pictured) celebrate after defeating host Monterrey to capture the Liga MX Apertura title on December 10, 2017, in Guadalupe, Mexico. (Photo: Mexsport)
GUADALUPE, Mexico – Tigres rallied to earn a 2-1 win over host Monterrey in the second leg of their 2017 Liga MX Apertura final on Sunday night to capture the series 3-2 on aggregate.
In front of 52,067 fans at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer, the host went ahead on an early Dorlan Pabon goal, but Tigres struck twice before halftime through Eduardo Vargas and Francisco Meza.
Monterrey went ahead 1-0 in the second minute, when Rogelio Funes Mori chested down a long ball into the path of Pabon, who found the left side of the net from 22-yards out with his right foot.
Vargas brought the sides on level terms in the 31st minute, using his right foot to first-time Jesus Dueñas’ rolled pass from the right off the hands of diving goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez from 18 yards out.
Four minutes later, Meza netted the game-winner thanks to a perfectly executed short corner kick from the right. Dueñas played a short pass to an unmarked Rafael de Souza (Rafael Carioca). The 28-year-old Brazilian looked up and delivered a ball to the edge of the six-yard box, where Meza bounced a powerful header into the left side of the net.
Monterrey had an opportunity to equalize in the 83rd minute, only for top-scorer Aviles Hurtado to blast a penalty kick high and to the right.
It is Tigres’ sixth Mexican title and third in the last five short tournaments.
Both sides have also qualified for the 2019 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
