Tigres UANL wins 2023 Campeón de Campeones

CARSON — Tigres UANL will go back to the Campeones Cup for the first time since 2018 as they defeated C.F. Pachuca 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park, taking the 2023 Campeón de Campeones title.

Tigres possessed the ball 55% of the time, leading to two timely goals to secure the win. Tigres shot 11 total shots with five being on goal.

UANL midfielder Fernando Gorriarán scored the Tigres’ first goal of the game at the 32nd minute while Nicolás Ibáñez scored the second of the team’s goals at the 76th minute.

With the win, Tigres will face LAFC, the MLS defending champions, in the 2023 Campeones Cup later this year.

“We are very happy for today’s achievement,” said Tigres’ head coach Robert Siboldi. “They played a great game against a great rival who has been playing well for some time. It went down to the distance for a reason. The boys showed they never settled for anything and showed they are hungry for victory.”

Tigres controlled the first half, possessing the ball 54% of the time while also getting the ball in dangerous positions around the box.

The well-controlled pace of play paid off at the 32nd minute when UANL midfielder Fernando Gorriarán received a pass from Juan Pablo Juan Pablo Vigón and drilled a shot on goal from the center of the box, putting Tigres up 1-0.

Pachuca had their fair share of chances to score, but couldn’t capitalize. A total of 6 shots were taken by Pachuca in the first half, but only two made it on goal.

At the half, Tigres led Pachuca 1-0.

UANL took a commanding 2-0 lead on a diving header from Nicolás Ibáñez. Ibáñez checked into the game at the 74th minute and scored just two minutes after.

But Pachuca responded quickly when midfielder Israel Luna Lopez scored the club’s first goal of heading in a cross from Tony Figueroa to cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the 81st minute, Pachuca had another chance to tie with a free kick on the Tigres’ side of the field. Fernando Ovelar attempted a shot from just outside the box, but the ball fell into the hands of Tigres’ goalie Nahuel Guzmán.

UANL closed out the game and escaped with the win over Pachuca to capture the Campeón de Campeones title.

Tigres UANL has now won its fourth Campeón de Campeones and will go back to the Campeones Cup.

Tigres UANL is the only La Liga MX team to win a Campeones Cup, winning the cup’s inaugural match in 2018 as they defeated Toronto FC in Toronto.

Siboldi said he is excited to take on the challenge of LAFC in the Campeones Cup.

“Winning this game means a chance to play in the final and when we play that game, we want to win it,” Siboldi said.

Both teams will enter La Liga MX’s first championship season, Apertura 2023, starting at the end of June.