Tigres UANL vs. Toronto FC
2018 Concacaf Champions League – Quarterfinals, Leg 2
Estadio Universitario - Nuevo Leon
10 pm ET – March 13, 2018
WATCH: UDN, UnivisionDeportes.com, go90.com for English audio,
Following a scintillating first leg that lived up to this clash of champions, the scene shifts to Nuevo Leon as defending Liga MX champion Tigres UANL host defending MLS champion Toronto FC in what should be another mouth-watering encounter with a berth in the Concacaf Champions League semifinals on the line.
Tigres did get an important away goal, scored by Chilean Eduardo Vargas, to take the lead at BMO Field a week ago, but Jozy Altidore powered the hosts back, leveling on the hour mark before Jonathan Osorio netted the winner one minute from full time on a ridiculous backheel.
- Altidore has "very big" moment in CCL showdown
- TFC brace for massive Leg 2 challenge at Tigres
- Best week ever for MLS vs. Liga MX in CCL
Tigres UANL
Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti, who was gracious in defeat and gave TFC their due respect in post-game comments last week, made four changes to the side that lost to Toronto FC and Tigres returned to their winning ways by defeating Club Tijuana, 1-0, in the 11th round of the Mexican Clasura at the weekend. The biggest insertion was French star Andre-Pierre Gignac, who struck for the sensational winner against Xolos two minutes before halftime as Tigres crept to within two points of leaders Santos Laguna in a three-way tie for second with Club America and Toluca.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Larry Vasquez, Rafael Carioca, Jorge Torres, Hugo Ayala, Javier Aquino
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Jorge Ivan Estrada (foot); D - Luis Rodriguez (thigh); D - Francisco Meza (ACL)
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Nahuel Guzman — Israel Jimenez, Hugo Ayala, Juninho, Jorge Torres Nilo — Rafael Carioca, Jesus Duenas, Javier Aquino — Eduardo Vargas, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Enner Valencia
Toronto FC
Toronto FC had a Week 2 MLS bye so Greg Vanney’s concentration remained squarely on Tigres throughout the weekend. The weekend off should also help with Victor Vazquez, who came off the bench in the first leg after battling back spasms, and Eriq Zavaleta, who limped off five minutes from full time, battling injuries. The Reds should have a close to clean bill of health for the tricky second leg, a match they are playing to win.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Michael Bradley
- Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: M - Victor Vazquez (back spasms)
Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Chris Mavinga — Gregory Van der Wiel, Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Justin Morrow — Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore
All-Time Series
- Toronto FC won the opening leg, 2-1, at BMO Field last Wednesday in the first-ever appearance between the teams.
- CONCACAF Champions League history: Toronto - 4 appearances (2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13) 13 wins, 8 losses, 8 ties (39 goals) … Tigres - 3 appearances (2012/13, 2015/16, 2016/17) 15 wins, 6 losses, 9 ties (49 goals)
Referees
To be announced …
