Concacaf rivalry : Nothing but blanks in latest Liga MX vs MLS clashes
Liga MX teams opened their Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 participation with a pair of scoreless draws against MLS clubs on the road.
Pachuca will feel aggrieved about not getting a better result against the Philadelphia Union, creating a bundle of scoring opportunities and squandering each of them.
Tigres, on the other hand, left Orlando with a 0-0 result that reflected its uninspired performance.
Both Liga MX sides will host the return matches next Tuesday needing a victory to advance to the quarterfinals. The away-goal rule is in force so if the MLS visitors score, the Liga MX teams must win outright. The only way these series will go to a penalty shoot-out is if the 0-0 scoreline is repeated.
Tuzos fail to shoot straight
Pachuca leads Liga MX in scoring (24 goals in 10 matches) but couldn't find the target at Subaru Park.
Philadelphia started the game on its front foot, forcing two fine saves from Carlos Moreno, but spent a good portion of the contest absorbing pressure and looking for the counter. That proved to be a decent strategy because the Tuzos were careless with the ball.
Guillermo Almada could often be seen grimacing as yet another Pachuca pass came up short or was intercepted. The normally crisp-passing Tuzos completed only 79% of their passes, with midfielder Nelson Deossa frequently guilty of poor decisions, particularly on long diagonals that allowd the Union to race in the other direction.
Pachuca created numerous chances in the second half but misfired repeatedly. The Tuzos took 18 shots, but only 3 were on net. Erick Sánchez was guilty of wasting opportunities on more than one occasion.
Tuzos striker Salomón Rondón did not get the service he is used to (mostly due to poor decision-making) and winger Oussama Idrissi was not as sharp as usual, though he thumped a screamer that went just wide of the far post early in the second half.
Tigres look lethargic against physical Orlando City
Despite 56% possession and 86% pass completion rate, the visiting Tigres never really threatened Pedro Gallese's net.
The Liga MX side looked mechanical and hesitant. Critics might point to coach Robert Siboldi's heavy-handed player rotation as quite a few Tigres appeared rusty (poor mechanics, slow to anticipate and slow to react).
Tigres managed just one shot in the first half – it wasn’t on target – and didn’t get its first shot on net until minute 70 (a Sebastián Córdova rocket-volley that Gallese blocked with his left knee). That was the team’s only shot on goal on the night.
Siboldi did substitute liberally in the second half (perhaps with an eye on their huge Liga MX date with América on Saturday), but "los felinos" were collectively too profligate.
Orlando City was not much better but that is not so surprising as The Lions are winless through two MLS matchdays.
The two teams will run it back next Tuesday at "El Volcán," one of the toughest Liga MX venues for visitors.