Tigres claim ‘Clásico Regio’ but Tuzos remain on top

The French Foreign Legion were at it again as André-Pierre Gignac and Florian Thauvin led the Tigres to a 2-0 victory over crosstown rivals Monterrey.

Gignac – the top goal-scorer in Liga MX – has scored in eight straight games while he and his countryman Thauvin have combined to score 8 goals in the past four Tigres matches.

Gignac broke the scoreless deadlock at the “El Volcán” in minute 69, firing home a pass from Luis Quiñones from outside the box. Thauvin converted a Jesús Dueñas pass 7 minutes later and the red-hot Tigres claimed this season’s “Clásico Regiomontano” 2-0.

Monterrey’s Vincent Janssen played the villain for the visitors, squandering a couple decent scoring opportunities while the game was still scoreless. As a team, the Rayados fired off 12 shots, but only managed to get two on target.

The win momentarily lifted Miguel Herrera’s club into first place thanks to its current 7-1-0 streak, a streak fueled by an offense that has scored 21 goals in that span.

Pachuca reclaims Liga MX lead

A couple hours after the Tigres had displaced them from atop the Liga MX table, the Tuzos edged visiting Cruz Azul 1-0 to climb back into first place.

Erick Sánchez knocked home rebound inside the box in minute 18 and the No. 2 defense in Liga MX made the early goal stand up.

In minute 69, Cruz Azul forward Santi Giménez had the equalizer at his feet and an empty net in front of him but he sent his shot into Row 36. The Cementeros did not get a shot on net the remainder of the match.

Pachuca won its fifth game in a row to move to 8-1-1 (25 points), while the Tigres sit at 7-2-1 (23 points). Cruz Azul remained fifth in the Liga MX standings, dropping to 5-2-4 (17 points).

UNAM 1, Necaxa 3

The visiting Rayos took advantage of a physically and emotionally exhausted Pumas side to steal 3 key road points as Necaxa looks to stay out of “Relegations Standings” danger.

UNAM was unable to summon the energy and emotion that helped the Pumas advance to the Concacaf Champions League semifinals after defeating the New England Revolution on Wednesday in a penalty shoot-out.

The Pumas don’t have a deep roster and most of their starters were playing their fourth game in 11 days. They simply ran out of gas against an opportunistic Necaxa club that is now undefeated in its past five Liga MX road games (3-2-0).

Alan Medina got behind the UNAM defense and opened the scoring in minute 20, then Rodrigo Aguirre  converted a penalty kick he helped create with a superb pass into the box to Idekel Domínguez who was fouled.

Aguirre scored again early in the second half (61’), offsetting a minute 69 goal by Diogo that only served to narrow the gap.

Necaxa climbed to 8th in the Liga MX table pending the outcome of Sunday’s four games. The Pumas tumbled into 12th place.

Matchday 11 continues …

Liga MX action continues with four matches on Sunday, including the “Clásico Tapatío” in Estadio Jalisco where Atlas will host crosstown rivals Chivas.

The Guadalajara derby is preceded by Toluca at América and will be followed by León at Mazatlán and a Border Battle that will see FC Juárez at Tijuana.