Tigres prevail over Monterrey in exciting but violent Clasico Regio

Tigres came back to get another win in the Clasico Regio with a 2-1 win over Monterrey. In what is all but officially the last Clasico Regio of Tigres coach Ricardo Ferretti, with all reports that he won’t resign from the club, Tigres was able to bounce back after trailing in a very exciting match that unfortunately ended with a brawl. Tigres now basically guarantees a place in the Repechaje, although they will have a key match against Chivas while Monterrey will hope to stop their struggles as they travel to the US mid week to face Columbus Crew before returning home to close out their season against Mazatlan.

The first half started with both teams coming out with their best squads, and with Monterrey surprising by coming in with both Rogelio Funes Mori and Vincent Janssen from the start. It was Janssen who got the first opportunity when he hit a left footed shot in the area that just went wide. Tigres had a great opportunity when Carlos Gonzalez lowered the ball in the area to a wide open Andre-Pierre Gignac, who tried to back heel the ball but did it right into Monterrey’s goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez. Minutes later, Funes Mori would get a one-on-one, but his shot was saved by Tigres’ goalkeeper, Nahuel Guzman. Then on a free kick, Monterrey surprised Tigres’ defense by playing it out instead of sending the cross into the area, and Alfonso Gonzalez got the ball and went past a couple of static defenders to get a great left footed shot from outside the area to score the 1-0. Monterrey once again got close when Maxi Meza got the ball in the area, but as he tried to get past Guzman the ball went out of bounds. Monterrey was controlling the match and being the most dangerous side but against the run of play, Tigres was able to tie. Luis Quiñones found Carlos Gonzalez with a great cross into the area, and Carlos Gonzalez rose to make a great header that went past Hugo Gonzalez for the 1-1. Monterrey had a good chance when Meza got a cross that found Janssen, but his volley went wide. Off a free kick, Gignac took a good shot that forced Gonzalez to make a save. The half ended and it was a very entertaining match so far.

The second half started with both teams going for the win. It looked like Luis Quiñones got dropped in the area by Jesus Gallardo, but after the referee went to VAR he didn’t give the penalty. Tigres subbed out Quiñones for Nicolas Lopez. Unlike the first half, this time it was Tigres who had more control of the possession as Monterrey struggled to get the ball back. Then after a foul in the area that dropped Gonzalez, the referee gave a penalty kick to Tigres. Andre-Pierre Gignac stepped up to take it and got a right footed shot past Hugo Gonzalez for the 2-1 lead. Monterrey immediately answered by subbing out Matias Kranevitter for Celso Ortiz. Monterrey had a good chance when a cross by Gallardo found Funes Mori, but his header was saved by a good stop by Guzman. Because of injury, Luis Rodriguez had to be subbed out for Erick Avalos. Monterrey then got a chance when Meza got a ball in the area, but his cross was blocked by Guzman. It looked like Gignac had scored again but he was correctly ruled to be offside. Monterrey then subbed out Carlos Rodriguez for Ake Loba in a very offensive minded substitution. Rayados then immediately had a chance when Funes Mori got a shot past Guzman, but it hit the post and bounced into Guzman’s arms. Tigres got a chance with a shot by Gignac that was saved by Gonzalez. They then subbed out Carlos Gonzalez for Julian Quiñones. Then after a strong foul there was a scuffle between Gignac and Sebastian Vegas. Vegas had gotten a yellow card before and got another one for a red card. Vegas got into it with a fan going out and the climate turned hostile. Minutes later it happened and after a foul and a clash between Rafael Carioca and Celso Ortiz, a huge brawl started between both teams. A foul near the area had the fight that ended with a red card to Rafael Carioca, who started the fight with Celso Ortiz. The game ended and a very exciting and at times violent game ended with another win for Tigres.

It was a very emotional match for the Tigres team and their fans, after all the rumors came that Ferretti had even announced his departure prior to the match. Tigres stepped up and gave their best match in a while after not getting a win at home since February. They are right back in it for a spot in the post season, although they have a key match against Chivas in which they will be without Rafael Carioca. Still they look poised to make one last run under Ferretti. Meanwhile Monterrey now are struggling with a terrible week in which they lost three matches. They will also have the trouble of having to play their first leg of their Quarterfinal matchup in the CONCACAF Champions League against Columbus Crew before returning home to face Mazatlan in a key matchup, although it looks likely that Monterrey will have to play repechaje and not qualify straight to the Liguilla.