In what is the culmination of the latest venture between Liga MX and MLS, Tigres UNAL prepared to face Cruz Azul in the inaugural Leagues Cup final at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada. That’s right, for the next instalment of our “Framed’ series we packed our bags and headed to Vegas, baby!
The Leagues Cup is a new eight-team tournament, with four teams from the MLS and four teams from Liga MX competing for the prize. But it just so happened that in this first year of the tournament, which started in July, two of Mexico's preeminent clubs ended up being the last ones standing, now facing off for the tournament's inaugural title at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Yep, defending Liga MX champions Tigres UANL against fellow Mexican side Cruz Azul with silverware on the line; sure to be worth watching, and it didn’t disappoint.
The game gave the city the opportunity to show off its potential as it vies to bring an MLS franchise to town. With a house full of passionate Mexican fans, it lived up to its billing, with both sides fielding full strength teams. Despite plenty of goal mouth action, the first half ended in a stalemate, but the second half more than made up for that.
Cruz Azul broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute after former Orlando City player Yotun converted a penalty attempt with a calm shot to the top left corner for the goal. Two minutes later, Rodriguez slipped through Tigres' centre backs for an easy finish past the keeper. Tigers pulled one back through Guido Pizarro, but it was too little, too late. That was not the end of the action either, with Tigres keeper, Nahuel Guzman seeing red after VAR confirmed an illegal challenge on Edgar Mendez. But ultimately it was Robert Siboldi’s first trophy as manager of Cruz Azul and a first international title for the Mexico City side since its 2014 CONCACAF Champions League win.
Photography by Devin L'Amoreaux and Jared M. for SoccerBible.