BTN News: Los Tigres UANL delivered a stunning performance on Saturday, securing a 3-0 victory over Santos Laguna in their own stadium. This decisive win not only showcased their superior play but also catapulted them to the top of the standings in the Apertura 2024 of Mexican football. The third round of the championship saw Tigres assert their dominance with goals from star players, including French forward André-Pierre Gignac, Mexican striker Ozziel Herrera, and Argentine Nicolás Ibáñez, all within the final 30 minutes of the match.
The match began with an evenly matched first half, where both teams missed opportunities to take the lead. However, Tigres shifted gears in the second half, pushing forward and breaking through Santos Laguna’s defenses. The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Gignac headed the ball into the net from a precise cross by Jesús Garza. This goal set the tone for the remainder of the match.
Shortly after, Ozziel Herrera doubled the lead with a powerful right-footed shot, thanks to an assist from Jesús Angulo. The final blow came in the 90th minute when Nicolás Ibáñez scored the third goal, assisted by Colombian Luis Quiñones, sealing a comprehensive victory for the visitors.
With this triumph, Tigres, under the guidance of Serbian-Spanish coach Veljko Paunović, have accumulated 10 points from three wins and one draw, placing them at the top of the league table. They are now one point ahead of Cruz Azul, who still have a match to play this Saturday, and Monterrey, who secured a 2-1 victory over Querétaro.
Monterrey’s win featured goals from Argentine Germán Berterame and Colombian Johan Rojas, under the leadership of Argentine coach Fernando Ortiz. Querétaro managed a consolation goal from Víctor López, though it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Berterame opened the scoring with a right-footed shot after a missed penalty by Spanish player Sergio Canales, and Rojas extended the lead with a goal assisted by fellow Colombian Stefan Medina. López’s left-footed strike in the 88th minute reduced the deficit but couldn’t prevent Monterrey’s victory.
Earlier on, Chivas de Guadalajara defeated Mazatlán 2-0, with goals from Cade Cowell and Armando González. This victory was crucial for Chivas as they continue their quest for the championship.
The fourth round of the tournament started on Friday, with San Luis drawing 1-1 against Tijuana and Atlas overcoming Puebla 2-1, thanks to a brace from Eduardo Aguirre. Lucas Cavallini scored for Puebla, leading the league’s scoring charts with four goals.
Saturday’s fixtures will see Cruz Azul hosting Toluca and reigning champions América traveling to face Juárez FC. The weekend’s action will conclude on Sunday with Pumas UNAM playing against Pachuca and León taking on Necaxa.
This week’s results have significantly shaped the league standings, with Tigres now leading the pack. Fans eagerly await the upcoming matches to see if they can maintain their lead and continue their impressive form in the Apertura 2024.
