Historic. The UANL Tigers become the first Mexican team and representative of Concacaf to qualify for the Club World Cup final after winning by the smallest difference, thanks to a penalty taken perfectly by André-Pierre Gignac, al Palm Trees, champion of the Copa Libertadores de América.
In the first minutes of the game, it seemed that the Tigers were the only ones who knew what they were at stake. From the beginning his hunger to transcend was seen and they reflected it by imposing conditions on the field of play. Although it was not an overwhelming domain, they were the best team on the field, as Palm Trees He could barely make a few brilliant backing plays, but isolated.
At minute 4, the first intervention of Weverton, figure of the first half. The Brazilian goalkeeper took a header from Carlos Gonzalez that many already sang as 1-0. This play was followed by the imbalance on the bands by de Luis Quiñones and Javier Aquino. In response, a mid-range shot of Roni seemed to balance the scale.
But it was not so because then a whole concert of saves from Weverton would come. Two to Gignac, who tried with his foot and head, and one more to Carlos González. By minute 40, Weverton was already a factor for Palmeiras to stay alive. Although if your goalkeeper is the figure, you have not done anything good on the field.
Palmeiras’ resistance ended just seven minutes into the second period. A filtered pass, towards Carlos Gonzalez culminated with the marking the maximum penalty after a too childish foul by Luan García. The Greater Tiger, André-Pierre Gignac, took the ball and beat Weverton despite the fact that the goalkeeper guessed the place where the Frenchman sent the ball.
The Tigers roared. They knew they couldn’t get closer to making history. And take the advantage of a team of Ricardo Ferretti in an instance of this level … it is almost impossible. And so it was for the Palmeiras that they were never comfortable on the pitchDesperation began to seize them because, despite the changes, there was no improvement in their actions.
The cats ran the game as only they know. Ball possession, easy passes and playing with the rival’s desperation that reflected on the face of their coach the impotence they felt before the game of Concacaf champion.
YESIIIIIIIIII! We are FINALISTS in the Club World Cup and we continue to make HISTORY!
THIS IS TIGERS, FUCK! #TigersInQatar#HoyLaUEsMundialpic.twitter.com/dWK4205mCI? Official Tigres Club (@TigresOficial) February 7, 2021
The only option of clear danger for the Brazilians, since they always found them offside, came from a rebound in Luis Rodríguez. Al Chaka rebounded the ball after a failure by Luiz Adriano that Nahuel could not stop. Fortunately Tigre the ball bounced and went over the end line.
Even in the last moments the Tigers did not suffer great attacksWhat’s more, it was enough for them Nahuel he would shine by lowering the ball from his chest and for several of his players to play with a single touch. The changes that Ferretti sent to the field they accompanied the clock that, little by little, was consumed until reaching the final whistle and dictating the story. Tigres, the most champion of Nuevo León, the Concacaf champion, is now a world finalist.
@Palms 0-1 @TigresOficial
With goal of @10APG, Tigres makes history by becoming the first Mexican team to reach the final of the #ClubWC
https://t.co/HyebpA4b5ypic.twitter.com/ygrDzTV9Ov
? FIFA.com in Spanish (@fifacom_es) February 7, 2021
Photos: Reuters
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