One of the most anticipated matchups of the Liga MX season was the eventful, controversial affair that it usually is: Mexican giants Monterrey and Tigres went head to head in the 126th Clasico Regiomontano and it was the home team which emerged victorious, 2-0, at BBVA Stadium.
Rayados got a 14th-minute goal from Alvaro ‘Ponchito’ Gonzalez and then sealed the match with a Matias Kranevitter goal deep in second-half stoppage time, as they overtook Tigres in the standings and the race for the Mexican liguilla playoff places.
The visitors probably deserved more from the match given the initiative they showed throughout. But Tigres were ultimately thwarted by mistimed runs, strong goalkeeping from Rayados netminder Esteban Andrada, the woodwork, or their own misfiring forwards. Their manager, Miguel Herrera, threw the kitchen sink at Rayados with four forwards, but he saw his team come up short.
MORE: Updated Liga MX match schedule, TV & streaming
Tigres had two major gripes in this game: on a yellow card call that forced them to substitute defender Carlos Salcedo out of concern he could get a second one — they argue the foul in question should not have been punished with a caution — and then on the 91st minute goal by Monterrey that essentially nullified the eight minutes of stoppage time as far as Tigres were concerned. The counterattack which resulted in that second Monterrey goal started with a collision between the referee and Tigres attacker Nicolas ‘El Diente’ Lopez.
“El Diente” Lopez
Monterrey (3-1-5, 14 points) move up to fifth place, six points behind leaders Club America. Dropping down are Tigres (3-2-4, 13 points), who trail their crosstown rivals by a single point. The two teams are not scheduled to face each other again until next season, unless they come across one another during the Liga MX playoffs.
MORE: Liga MX results & standings
Monterrey vs. Tigres final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Monterrey | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tigres UANL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals:
MON – Arturo “Ponchito” Gonzalez (Maxi Meza) – 14th min.
MON – Matias Kranevitter (Maxi Meza) – 91st min.
(All times Eastern)
Final: Rayados 2, Tigres 0
92nd min.: The officials give eight minutes of stoppage time. It’s not going to be enough for a Tigres comeback.
91st min.: Goal Rayados! Maxi Meza leads another counter this late in the game and he serves up Kranevitter, who bundles it into the net. Tigres want the goal disallowed because the turnover occurred after a Tigres player collided with the referee. They have a point. Andre-Pierre Gignac gets a yellow for protests. The goal stands.
Late drama in the #ClasicoRegio. Tigres pushing for an equalizer with Diente Lopez eventually having his run blocked by a referee. Monterrey immediately counter and make it 2-0. Tigres furious with decision to allow play to continue. #LigaMXeng
— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) September 20, 2021
89th min.: Beautiful cross by Quinones, but he misses a lunging Charly Gonzalez by a foot. That was a close call for Monterrey.
85th min.: What a chance for Tigres! “Charly” Gonzalez just needs to head Chaka’s cross onto frame and it’s a goal, but he misses. The ‘keeper had come off his line and missed the cross.
84th min.: Tigres are pressing and fire off a couple of shots, but the balls can’t find a way through. Monterrey is defending deep.
82nd min.: Monterrey hits the crossbar! Funes Mori with the downward header off a free kick, but he was offside on the service.
80th min.: SUB – Monterrey counters by bringing on another central defender. Veteran Hector Moreno comes on.
77th min.: SUBS – Tigres bring in two subs: Fulgencio and Charly Gonzalez. Tigres now playing with four all-out attackers.
75th min.: Maxi Meza has been Monterrey’s best attacker on the night. And he pulled off the skill move of the game:
72nd min.: Second-half hydration break ordered by the head ref.
71st min.: Maxi Meza with a shot from distance that forces Tigres ‘keeper Nahuel Guzman into a save.
68th min.: SUB – Fresh legs in attack for Monterrey: Costa Rican winger Joel Campbell on for Duvan Vergara.
63rd min.: Head-to-head collision between two Monterrey defenders: Medina and Montes. The ref immediately stops play.
60th min.: Tigres has to clear the ball twice off the line! Monterrey again with attacking flashes. First it was Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman and then his teammate Chaka Rodriguez to clear the attempt from Rogelio Funes Mori.
59th min.: SUBS: Tigres take off Salcedo who’s carrying a yellow and Juan Jose Purata comes in for him. Salcedo was not happy because he feels his yellow was not justified. Monterrey also bring on Matias Kranevitter for the injured Celso Ortiz, who leaves on the medical cart.
57th min.: The match is following the same script of the first half. Tigres with the more sustained attacking buildups, while Monterrey looks to win the ball and quickly go vertical. Meanwhile, Tigres right back Chaka Rodriguez fires a shot from distance that’s easily saved by Andrada.
54th min.: Monterrey wants a second yellow for Carlos Salcedo after a foul on the attacking right flank. No way and the ref isn’t going for it. The free kick is right at Nahuel Guzman.
53rd min.: We’re only eight minutes into the second half and Monterrey ‘keeper Andrada gets a yellow for delay of game.
47th min.: First yellow card of the game goes to Carlos Salcedo for a collision with Ponchito Gonzalez. Salcedo jumps high enough that Ponchito slams into his rear end and he gets carded for it. This free kick is in a dangerous spot outside the box and Duvan Vergara nearly picks out the far post. The ball goes just wide.
46th min.: Monterrey kicks off the second half. Tigres make an attack-minded change: No. 11 Nicolas “El Diente” Lopez in for Juan Vigon.
Halftime: Rayados 1, Tigres 0
Halftime: Skirmish erupts between the teams after the halftime whistle. That last disallowed goal seems to have ignited the nerves. We’ll see if there are any cards handed out.
49th min.: Monterrey scores! Maxi Meza strips the ball from Luis Quinones and then launches the counter and serves Funes Mori, who scores. But the goal is scratched after the refs judge Meza to have fouled Quinones. It’s the right call by the VAR.
47th min.: Gignac blast from distance and it’s saved off the bar by Monterrey’s Andrada! Then on the following play, Thauvin tries for the flying volley cross, but he fails to connect with a teammate.
45th min.: Four minutes of stoppage time.
44th min.: Javier Aquino fires a right-footed shot from distance that goes over the Monterrey bar. Good idea from the Tigres left (wing)back.
34th min.: Monterrey wins a ball in the Tigres half and sends it right down their throat. Duvan Vergara fires a shot that deflects off Tigres defender Pizarro and forces a save from Nahuel Guzman. Tigres might be strong in attack, but they’re porous in the back.
32nd min.: Another dangerous cross from Monterrey’s Maxi Meza on the right and Charly Rodriguez can’t direct his header on goal. Monterrey continue to be dangerous in transition and the home team is exposing the holes in the Tigres five-man back line.
28th min.: Play resumes and Tigres are back at it.
26th min.: Hydration break ordered by the referee.
24th min.: Thauvin hits the right post! But the play is whistled dead after Thauvin was ruled offside. Tigres has been the most dangerous team, but Monterrey has been the most efficient.
23rd min.: Thauvin finds Gignac in the box, but his shot is deflected for a corner and nothing comes of the corner kick.
20th min.: Quinones lets fly from outside the box and Monterrey ‘keeper Andrada needs two tries to bring the ball under control.
18th min.: Monterrey chance! Long ball over the top of the Tigres back line and Funes Mori controls, Pizarro blocks his first attempt and then Funes Mori gets another shot off that hits the side netting.
14th min.: Goal Monterrey! Rayados are lethal in transition and proved it there. Cesar Montes fed Maxi Meza down the right flank and he sent a perfectly weighted ball to an onrushing Ponchito Gonzalez, who heads it home.
12th min.: Thauvin tries to surprise Monterrey’s Esteban Andrada, but the ‘keeper reads it well and snags the ball. Thauvin is eager early.
12th min.: It’s been all Tigres early on. Monterrey finally has its first corner kick, but it’s sent right at Tigres ‘keeper Nauel Guzman.
8th min.: Tigres forward Luis Quinones is active early on, chasing and challenging for balls. He also gets a talking to from the ref after a clash with Charly Rodriguez.
3rd min.: Tigres score! But Florian Thauvin, who ran onto the pass from the right flank, is offside and the replays prove it.
1st min.: We’re off. Elaborate tifo from the home fans for this one:
7:47 p.m.: Tigres have won the last four matchups and they have a slightly better record, but they’re not the favorites tonight:
Monterrey vs Tigres UANL: Starting lineups
Javier Aguirre will be fielding the same team that starred in midweek against Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal:
Monterrey starting lineup (4-3-4, left to right): 31-Esteban Andrada-GK — 17-Jesus Gallardo, 20-Sebastian Vegas, 3-Cesar “Cachorro” Montes, 33-Stefan Medina — 21-Arturo “Ponchito” Gonzalez (15-Hector Moreno, 80′), 16-Celso Ortiz (5-Matias Kranevitter, 59′), 29-Carlos “Charly” Rodriguez — 10-Duvan Vergara (8-Joel Campbell, 68′), 7-Rogelio Funes Mori, 11-Maxi Meza
Tigres manager Miguel Herrera has his big names in the starting lineup, led by Frenchmen Andre-Pierre Gignac and Florian Thauvin.
Tigres starting lineup (5-2-3, right to left): 1-Nahuel Guzman-GK — 20-Javier Aquino, 3-Carlos Salcedo (14-Juan Jose Purata, 59′), 19-Guido Pizarro, 13-Diego Reyes, 28-Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez — 5-Rafael Carioca (Carlos “Charly” Gonzalez, 77′), 6-Juan Vigon (11-Nicolas “El Diente” Lopez, 46′) — 23-Luis Quinones, 10-Andre-Pierre Gignac, 26-Florian Thavin (22-Raymundo Fulgencio, 77′)
How to watch Monterrey vs. Tigres
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 19
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV channel: FS2
- Spanish-language TV: Fox Deportes
- Live stream: fuboTV
The match will be broadcast on FS2 (English) and Fox Deportes (Spanish), both of which can be streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial) .