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ALAJUELA, Costa Rica - Luis Valle scored six seconds into second-half injury time and rallied Alajuelense to a 2-2 draw with Tigres on Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Valle's goal from 25 meters came on a fortunate bounce after Cristopher Menese's initial shot deflected off teammate Walter Chevez. The ball caromed across the top of the penalty area, where Valle settled and struck a right-footed drive that sailed between the right post and diving Tigres keeper Aaron Fernandez.
The goal preserved Alajuelense's unbeaten record at home in the Champions League after five games. Last season. "Liga" won all three games at home by identical 1-0 scores.
Tigres remained atop Group 6 with four points, three better than Alajuelense and four more than Real Esteli. Only the group winners advance to the quarterfinals.
Tigres appeared headed for victory and a commanding lead in Group 6 after Manuel Viniegra headed in a free kick in the 58th minute to complete the Mexican side's rally from an early deficit.
Both sides had early chances but Liga went ahead only after Diego Calvo entered the game in the 19th minute.
Calvo replaced Kevin Sancho, who injured his left instep on a seemingly innocuous play, collapsing to the turf without colliding with anyone in front of the goal and having to be carried off on a stretcher.
The 21-year-old midfielder in his third season with Alajuelense, found the ball at his feet after a several ricochets. He took at touch to settle the ball just outside the penalty area and then struck a right-footed, arcing drive that bent over the outstretched arm of Fernandez.
Despite employing a youthful lineup with only two players from Friday's starting lineup that lost 2-1 to Tijuana, Tigres started to attack along the right side in waves. Alan Pulido was the most active, having his best effort knocked away by keeper Patrick Pemberton in the 27th.
But Pulido would be involved in the equalizer in the 41st, getting a heel touch to Fernando Navarro's cross from the right. The ball deflected off Alajuelense defender Cristian Oviedo and dropped on the six at the right post, where Alonso Zamora simply scored into an open net.
Viniegra, one of Tigres' two starters from Friday, then gave the Mexican side the lead off of Alberto Acosta's free kick on the left side. Viniegra ran on to the curling ball and headed it past Pemberton from just outside the six.
Alajuelense next will travel to Nicaragua on Tuesday to face Esteli, while Tigres will do the same on September 18.
