MONTERREY, Nuevo Leon, Mexico – Orlando City SC lost to Tigres UANL 4-2 in the second Round of 16 game in the 2024 CONCACAF Championship Cup Tournament on Tuesday at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico, eliminating Orlando from the international tournament.
Orlando managed to generate scoring with goals from Facundo Torres and Marin Ojeda, strangely, both on penalty kicks. Unfortunately Pedro Gallese also helped out Tigres with an own goal in the second half.
“It was hard for us to adapt to the field, to the climate, to the [stadium] atmosphere.” said Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja. “We felt Tigres came [at] us and we didn’t have an answer in that moment. But after that I thought we leveled the game very well. We were close to tying it and then we started matching them up much, much better. But the start of the game just cost us a lot…So, at this point we need to rejoin, move on and concentrate on the league [play].”
Tigres started things off 13 minutes into the match after turning over Wilder Cartagena in the Lions’ own half. Rafael Carioca picked up a pass in the midfield swinging it over to Marcelo Flores on the left wing. Flores took a touch inside before firing a bouncing strike to Pedro Gallese’s lower-left corner.
Tigres added to their lead just seven minutes later when a Tigres player was brought down in the box and referee Ivan Barton awarded the hosts a penalty. André-Pierre Gignac stepped up, sent Pedro Gallese to his right and sent it to Gallese’s left.
Earning a penalty kick of their own four minutes later, the Lions were able to get one back. André-Pierre Gignac made an error himself, pushing down defender Robin Jansson in the box on a corner kick, setting up Facundo Torres to bury the spot kick and get the Lions an all-important away goal.
Tigres added one more to their tally in the 68th minute, after a headed ball came off the bar and straight down onto Pedro Gallese after a diving effort. The ball bounced off Gallese and was deemed to be over the line when he grabbed onto it.
The home side made it a three-goal game late in the match after gaining possession at midfield. Juan Vigón found Sebastián Córdova, who capitalized on the transition to make it 4-1.
Martín Ojeda added a second for the Lions just into second half stoppage time, after Robin Jansson’s attempt off a corner was deflected by a Tigres’ defender hand. Ojeda easily put the ball away to cut the lead to two goals
Orlando returns to Major League Soccer action with a trip to face Atlanta United FC on Sunday, March 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That match will kick off at 7 p.m. ET
