Tigres Triumph Over Mazatlán At The Volcán Despite Setbacks

On Friday night, Tigres UANL came from behind to defeat Mazatlán FC 4-3 at the Estadio Universitario, extending their unbeaten streak to three games in the Liga MX Clausura 2023 tournament. Despite conceding an early goal, Tigres fought back with a spirited performance, showcasing their resilience and determination to secure a hard-earned victory at home.

A Tale of Two Halves

Mazatlán started the match brightly and took an early lead through Ariel Nahuelpán in the 21st minute. The Tigres defense was caught napping, allowing the Argentine striker to head home a cross from the left flank. However, the hosts responded well to the setback and began to dominate possession, creating several scoring opportunities.

Their efforts paid off in the 35th minute when André-Pierre Gignac equalized with a stunning free-kick from just outside the box. The French forward curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Mazatlán goalkeeper Nicolás Vikonis no chance. Tigres continued to press for a winner, but the first half ended level at 1-1.

In the second half, Tigres came out with renewed purpose and took the lead in the 55th minute through Luis Quiñones. The Colombian winger received a pass from Gignac and drove into the Mazatlán penalty area before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. Mazatlán responded well and equalized again in the 65th minute through Eduard Bello’s header.

The game continued to swing back and forth, with both teams creating chances to win. Tigres eventually regained the lead in the 75th minute when Sebastián Córdova scored a clinical goal from close range. The Mexican midfielder pounced on a rebound after a shot from Gignac was saved by Vikonis.

Late Drama at the Volcán

Mazatlán refused to lie down and fought back once more, equalizing for the third time through Nicolás Benedetti in the 85th minute. The Colombian midfielder fired a low shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner. It seemed like the game was destined to end in a draw, but Tigres had other ideas.

In the dying minutes of the game, Gignac produced a moment of magic to secure a dramatic victory for the home side. The French forward received a pass from Quiñones and unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that flew into the top corner. It was a breathtaking goal that sent the crowd at the Volcán into raptures.

Victory Built on Resilience and Character

Tigres’ victory over Mazatlán was a testament to their resilience and character. Despite conceding an early goal and falling behind twice during the game, the hosts never gave up and fought back to secure a hard-earned three points. The win extends their unbeaten streak to three games and keeps them firmly in contention for a top-four finish in the Clausura tournament.

Gignac’s Continued Importance

André-Pierre Gignac was once again the star of the show for Tigres, scoring the winning goal and setting up two others. The French forward has now scored eight goals in 10 appearances for the club this season and remains one of the most dangerous strikers in the Liga MX. His ability to score important goals and inspire his teammates makes him an invaluable asset for Tigres.

Conclusion

Tigres’ victory over Mazatlán was an important step towards their goal of securing a top-four finish in the Clausura tournament. The team showed great resilience and character to fight back from behind and secure a dramatic victory at home. André-Pierre Gignac was once again the star of the show, proving his continued importance to the team. With the win, Tigres remain firmly in contention for a place in the playoffs and will be confident of continuing their good form in the weeks to come.