LONGFORD – Andre-Pierre Gignac fired in a late free kick to earn Mexican side Tigres a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first leg of their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One series on Wednesday night at Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia.
Vancouver looked set to secure a clean sheet victory, but Gignac’s pedigree rose to the surface and the legendary French striker scored his 17th career Champions Cup goal to give Tigres a crucial away goal.
Early on, the Whitecaps lost a couple balls in their own half to give Tigres some good cracks at goal, but Vancouver GK Yohei Takaoka was up to the task and made a couple stretch saves to keep it scoreless.
Vancouver started growing into the game and broke the deadlock in the 32’ with a great team goal ending with Brian White spinning a header to Damir Kreilach, who finished a right-footed volley for a 1-0 lead.
The home side carried a one-goal lead into halftime thanks to Takaoka, who was called on again to make a diving save, this time on an Ozziel Herrera volley.
Emotions continued to run high as the second half wore on at a frenetic pace, with both teams knowing that a goal either way would go a long way toward swinging the series more in their favor.
Tigres made one final surge in the waning moments in hopes of an equalizer and a key away goal, and it arrived in the 88’ off the boot of Gignac, who fired in a free kick into the top right corner to earn Tigres the 1-1 draw.
