- The Liga MX club will now await the winner of Monday’s semifinal between Bayern Munich vs Al Ahly
AL Rayyan, Qatar – 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League winners Tigres UANL made history on Sunday by becoming the first Concacaf team to reach the Final of the FIFA Club World Cup after posting a 1-0 victory over Palmeiras of Brazil in the 2020 FCWC semifinals on Sunday night at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
Andre-Pierre Gignac’s second-half goal proved to be the decisive score against the 2020 Conmebol Copa Libertadores champions, giving the French striker three goals in the tournament.
The Liga MX club will now await the winner of Monday’s semifinal between 2019-20 UEFA Champions League winners Bayern Munich of Germany and 2019-20 CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt. The final will be played this Thursday, February 11.
Tigres enjoyed a very good start and almost had the first goal in the 4’ when a Carlos Gonzalez header forced a stretch save from Palmeiras GK Weverton.
Tigres GK Nahuel Guzman was just as good at the other end in the 16’ with a diving save to prevent an opening score for the Brazilians.
Weverton was then called on to make a pair of saves to deny Gignac, the first a right-footed shot that was parried wide in the 34’, followed by a header in the 37’ that was blocked.
Tigres continued applying pressure into the second half and earned a penalty when Gonzalez was fouled in the Palmeiras penalty area after receiving a pass from Guido Pizarro.
Gignac stepped up to take the spot kick and fired in the penalty under the diving Weverton to hand Tigres a 1-0 lead in the 54’.
Palmeiras did not go quietly and a deep cross in the 77’ intended for Luiz Adriano almost ended with own goal off the foot of Tigres DF Luis Rodriguez.
In the end, the Tigres defense would hold firm and closed things out to earn a victory that will forever live in Concacaf lore.
