FC Cincinnati Aims for Historic Advancement Against Tigres UANL

MONTERREY, Mexico — FC Cincinnati will face Tigres UANL in the decisive second leg of their Round of 16 matchup in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday night, pursuing a spot in the quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s history.

Following a tightly contested 1-1 draw in the first leg, FCC has the opportunity to secure advancement with a win or a draw that includes multiple goals. With Tigres holding an away goal, any draw featuring a score of 2-2 or higher would also see Cincinnati moving forward in the tournament.

However, the challenge ahead is significant. Historically, Major League Soccer teams, including Cincinnati, have struggled in Mexico during Champions Cup matches. Adding to the difficulty, FCC is competing on just two days of rest after a Saturday victory in league play.

“It’s no different than any other game… a quick turnaround is not something that is new to us,” said head coach Pat Noonan during a press conference. “I’m confident the guys will take in the information and adjustments, and we’ll put together a strong performance.”

Noonan emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence ahead of this pivotal match. He noted, “No additional pressure based on knowing that if we don’t get a result, that’s the end of the tournament. But we have to be prepared for a strong start against a very challenging team.”

This will be Cincinnati’s eighth all-time match against Liga MX clubs, a series in which they hold a record of 3-2-2. Their previous encounter in Mexico ended in a 2-1 defeat against CF Monterrey last year during the same tournament.

In a critical subplot, Cincinnati enters with optimism following a competitive first leg where they created several goal-scoring opportunities. Despite this, the squad recognizes the need for improvement.

“We want to be confident, mindful, and respectful of our opponent,” Noonan added. “But we will try to do what we know we can do well to advance.”

If FC Cincinnati does succeed in advancing, they will face the winner of the matchup between Herediano and LA Galaxy, which has the Costa Rican side leading 1-0 after the first leg.

The match is set for 10:30 p.m. EDT at Estadio Universitario, and fans can catch the action on FS1 or stream it via Fox Sports platforms. Local radio broadcasts will be available through iHeart Media ESPN 1530 in English and La Mega 101.5 FM in Spanish.

As for Tigres, they come into Tuesday’s match as a formidable opponent, having previously won the Champions Cup in 2020 and reaching the finals in multiple seasons. Under new manager Guido Pizarro, Tigres aims to reinforce their legacy in this prestigious tournament.

“I think there’s probably a plan on their end to be aggressive,” Noonan said, acknowledging Tigres’ home advantage. “It’s natural, but we have to be prepared.”