Tigres earned a commanding 3-1 win against Chivas in the first leg of their Liga MX Clausura playoff quarterfinal on Saturday. The victory puts Tigres in a favorable position heading into the second leg.

First-Half Action and Equalizer

Ricardo Marín gave Chivas an early lead in the 11th minute, scoring their only shot on target in the first half. However, Jesús Angulo leveled the score just before halftime with a header from a corner kick.

Tigres' Second-Half Comeback

The turning point arrived early in the second half with a stunning volley from Juan Brunetta in the 52nd minute, assisted by Fernando Gorriarán. Diego Sánchez then completed the comeback just three minutes later, finishing a swift counterattack also set up by Gorriarán, and beating goalkeeper Óscar Whalley.

Chivas Face Uphill Battle

Chivas now face a significant challenge, requiring a two-goal victory in the return leg on May 9 at Estadio Akron to advance based on aggregate tiebreakers. Óscar Whalley, filling in for Raúl 'Tala' Rangel, made several crucial saves in the first half.

Impact of National Team Call-Ups and Injuries

Chivas was without five players called up to the Mexican national team: Raúl Rangel, Luis Romo, Brian Gutiérrez, Roberto Alvarado, and Armando González. Injuries to Daniel Aguirre and Hugo Camberos further weakened their lineup. Tigres, conversely, had no players participating in international duty.

Looking Ahead

Tigres dominated the match and will now focus on their Concacaf Champions Cup return leg against Nashville SC on Tuesday, where they hold a 1-0 lead. Other Liga MX playoff matches include Cruz Azul vs. Atlas, América vs. Pumas, and Toluca vs. Pachuca on May 3.