FC Cincinnati Faces Tigres UANL in Crucial Champions Cup Matchup

MONTERREY, Mexico — FC Cincinnati will face Tigres UANL in the second leg of their Round of 16 matchup in the Concacaf Champions Cup Tuesday night at Estadio Universitario. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the MLS side must secure a victory or a favorable draw to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in club history. Cincinnati holds the upper hand with an away goal, meaning any draw with two or more goals would also advance them in the tournament.

“The situation is different compared to last year when we went into the second leg down a goal. We have to put ourselves in a competitive position to advance,” head coach Pat Noonan said before the match.

Tigres UANL enters the game as a strong contender, sitting third in the Liga MX Clausura standings. They are well-experienced in this tournament, being the champions of the 2020 edition. FC Cincinnati, however, is coming off a solid 2-0 win against Toronto FC, bolstering their confidence for Tuesday’s game.

Noonan emphasized that both teams are coming off short rests, with Cincinnati playing just two days after their league victory and no changes expected in Tigres’ starting lineup from the first leg.

“We need to start strong and stay organized defensively. Our confidence with the ball will be critical against a team with the talent that Tigres possesses,” Noonan stated.

Cincinnati has faced Liga MX teams seven times before, holding a 3-2-2 record. This match will mark their second trip to Mexico, where they previously lost to CF Monterrey in last year’s tournament.

The stakes are high as the winner of this matchup will advance to face either LA Galaxy or Herediano in the upcoming quarterfinals. Herediano leads their series 1-0 ahead of their second leg.

Fans can watch the match on FS1 and stream it via various platforms including TUDN and ESPN. Local radio broadcasts will be available in both English and Spanish through iHeart Media.

“We’re ready for anything Tigres throws our way. We’ve learned from our past experiences, and we’re eager to make history by advancing in this tournament,” Noonan concluded.