Nicolás Ibáñez scored for the hosts, while Paulinho netted the goal for the visitors in Monterrey.
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The return leg will be played Saturday at Estadio Nemesio DiezToluca will advance with a draw or a winTigres are forced to winFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Tigres UANL were unable to capitalize on home advantage on Wednesday night, settling for a 1–1 draw against Antonio Mohamed’s Toluca in the first leg of the Clausura 2025 Liga MX semifinals. The result leaveswith a slight edge heading into the return leg at home.
Following the match, Tigres head coach Guido Pizarro shared his thoughts in a press conference, expressing disappointment with the performance – particularly the fact that goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán was the standout player for his side.
"We started well and took the lead, but then the opponent caught up, and at times played better than us," Pizarro said. "There are definitely things we need to change before the second leg. Having our goalkeeper be the standout figure is never a good sign. It wasn’t the result we wanted. We’ll have to make corrections and prepare for what will be a tough match."
Despite the challenges, Pizarro emphasized that Tigres will head to Toluca with the intention of securing a spot in the final. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task but expressed confidence that opportunities will arise.
"Regardless of the stats, we’re obligated to improve. It’s going to be a tight match in Toluca. There will be chances, the game will open up, and hopefully, we can take it. We need to plan well and see how to approach it," he explained.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Tigres started strong with a goal from Nicolás Ibáñez in the 19th minute, but Toluca responded just before halftime with an equalizer from Paulinho. The 1–1 result clearly benefits , who now look to close out the series at home in front of their fans on Saturday.
Tigres, meanwhile, are in a must-win situation—and the numbers aren’t in their favor. They head into the second leg with a 614-minute goal drought as visitors and, following Wednesday’s result, have now gone 10 consecutive Liguilla matches without a win, recording seven draws and three losses. It's a streak they’ll need to break if they hope to reach the final.
Getty Images SportWHAT ANTONIO MOHAMED SAID
On the other side, Toluca head coach Antonio Mohamed expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, believing they deserved more than just a draw.
"We played a great match. We were better than the opponent and deserved to win, but it didn’t happen. We now have the advantage of playing at home, but there are still 90 minutes left. We have to remain humble and continue to respect such a historic and experienced rival. Now we rest and prepare to face them at home, where we’ll go for the win—because that’s our essence," said Mohamed.
The Argentine manager also praised Alexis Vega’s current form and voiced his frustration with Liga MX's playoff format, criticizing the long break teams endure after finishing top of the table.
"Alexis is in great form, and we hope he continues like this through the Liguilla. As I said before, it doesn’t make sense that the team finishing first has to wait 20 days and only finds out their opponent 48 hours before the match. Cruz Azul suffered the same fate last season after losing 3–0 in Tijuana. It’s something that needs to be reviewed so it doesn’t happen again," he stated.
Mohamed concluded by highlighting his team’s resilience: "We handled the early goal well and showed personality. There are still 90 minutes left to prove we deserve to be in the final."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TIGRES AND TOLUCA?
The 1–1 draw favors Toluca, who will advance to the final with either a win or a draw in the second leg, thanks to their higher position in the standings after finishing as Clausura 2025 leaders. The return leg will be played Saturday at Estadio Nemesio Diez.
