By ATTS 
Necaxa and Tigres Open Quarterfinal Series with a Disappointing 0-0 Tie
The highly anticipated Quarterfinal series between Necaxa and Tigres kicked off with a lackluster 0-0 tie, leaving fans of both teams underwhelmed. The match, which promised excitement, turned out to be a tactical battle where neither side could capitalize on their opportunities. Necaxa dominated the first half but failed to convert their chances, while Tigres improved in the second half, ensuring the game ended in a stalemate.
The first half saw Necaxa take control of the game, with their starting lineup creating several scoring opportunities. However, despite their dominance, they couldn’t find the back of the net. Tigres, on the other hand, struggled to create chances but managed to keep the game level heading into halftime.
The First Half: Necaxa’s Dominance
The match began with both teams fielding their strongest lineups, and it was clear from the start that Necaxa meant business. The game was physical, with the referee having to intervene early after a foul led to a mini scuffle. Necaxa’s Agustin Palavecino had the first real chance when a poor clearance fell to him, but his header sailed wide. Palavecino continued to be a threat, testing Tigres’ goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman with a left-footed shot from outside the area that Guzman managed to save.
Kevin Rosero’s cross into the area found two Necaxa attackers, but neither could connect properly. Despite this, Necaxa maintained possession and continued to press. Pavel Perez forced Guzman into another save with a right-footed shot, and Diber Cambindo’s follow-up effort was also blocked by the Tigres goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Perez again, but his subsequent shot went wide. Alexis Peña’s header from a cross into the area was yet another chance that Guzman managed to save. Despite Necaxa’s clear superiority, the halftime whistle blew with the score still 0-0.
The Second Half: Tigres’ Resilience
Tigres made tactical changes at the start of the second half, substituting Sebastian Cordova and Juan Pablo Vigon for Ozziel Herrera and Romulo Zwarg. The adjustments seemed to work as Tigres began to find their footing in the game. Palavecino continued to be a threat for Necaxa, but his efforts were met with strong defensive work from Tigres. A shot from outside the area by Palavecino went wide, and another left-footed attempt was well saved by Guzman.
Nicolas Ibañez’s shot was cleared off the line by Alejandro Mayorga, and Diego Lainez squandered a golden opportunity when he failed to capitalize on a cross into the area, heading the ball wide. Perez tested Guzman again with a left-footed shot, but the Tigres goalkeeper was up to the task. On the counter, Herrera forced Necaxa’s goalkeeper, Ezequiel Unsain, into a good save with a right-footed shot.
Tigres made another substitution, bringing on Marcelo Flores for the injured Nicolas Ibañez, while Necaxa replaced Diber Cambindo with Ricardo Monreal. A controversial moment arose when Lainez appeared to be brought down in the area, but the referee waved play on. Lainez then forced Unsain into a great save with a left-footed shot. Tigres made further substitutions, bringing on Raymundo Fulgencio for Juan Brunetta, while Necaxa replaced Pavel Perez and Johan Rojas with Diego de Buen and Arturo Palma.
The Conclusion and What’s Next
Despite Necaxa’s efforts to find a winner, Tigres did well to slow down the game and limit their offensive ideas. Necaxa made a late substitution, bringing on Tomas Badaloni for Jose Rodriguez, but even that couldn’t spark a breakthrough. A cross into the area was headed wide by Rosero, and after a foul led to a scuffle between Emilio Lara and Zwarg, Zwarg was booked with a yellow card. Another controversial moment occurred when a left-footed shot appeared to be handled by Herrera, but again, the referee chose not to intervene. Lainez’s late shot went wide, and the match ended with both teams sharing the spoils.
The 0-0 tie gives Tigres the advantage heading into the second leg, as another tie would see them advance to the Semifinals. Necaxa, on the other hand, wasted a great opportunity to take control of the series. They will now have to secure an away win against a Tigres side that, despite not playing well, has shown defensive solidity. Fans will hope that both teams improve their offensive performance in the next leg, as this series has been the most disappointing of the Liguilla so far.