By Tony Álvarez
Club Tigres look to secure a top spot heading into the last phase one game of the Leagues Cup when they face the newest MLS team in their home stadium, while San Diego FC will try everything to stay alive in the tournament this Friday at Snapdragon Stadium at 11:00 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- 1st ever matchup between teams
- Contrast in history as San Diego just started play in 2025, while Tigres is one of Mexico's oldest and most successful clubs
- Record at Leagues Cup: Tigres (6-2), San Diego (0-1)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- Tigres UANL:
- 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
- Currently on 3-game winning streak, looking for 4 straight for 1st time since July-August 2024
- San Diego FC:
- 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses
- Could they be tiring... just 2 wins in their last 6 games after a stretch of 8 wins in 10 games
MAIN STORYLINES:
- Tigres dominated their Leagues Cup opener, the four goals is the most they've ever scored in a Leagues Cup match
- Ángel Correa scored two goals in Leagues Cup debut, his first two goals in his 3rd match with Tigres
- San Diego FC conceded at least three goals for the 6th time this season (they have 1 win and 5 losses in those games)
- Hirving “Chucky” Lozano gets to play a 2nd consecutive game against a Liga MX team
- Anders Dreyer will not be available for San Diego after picking up a red card on Tuesday, he's their leading scored in MLS this season
KEY FACTORS:
- Club Tigres:
- Will look to continue second half dominance after scoring three times in the opener
- Will Guido Pizarro look to incorporate other players into the starting eleven
- Traveling to San Diego from Houston after a delayed flight
- San Diego FC:
- Could we see some of their newly signed players from the start
- Pablo Sisniega has taken over the starting job at goalkeeper position
- Homefield advantage has been important for them all season
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Los Felinos travel to Southern California after a convincing 4-1 victory at Houston Dynamo with an inspired Ángel Correa. The Argentinian scored twice in the match in his tournament debut and is set to contribute all season long up front for a dangerous Club Tigres team that has their eyer on the trophy.
While they will have a complete roster, there is no secret that head coach Guido Pizarro could give more playing time to certain pieces that need more minutes to be in rhythm as they have just started the Liga MX with two wins in the same number of games.
San Diego FC on the other come of a heartbreaking loss to CF Pachuca in their first ever League Cup encounter. Mike Varas´ team generated opportunities but mistakes in their backline were costly and they could not come back all the way to tie a very entertaining game. They managed to pull just one goal behind after being down 3-0 but they ran out of time.
Hirving “Chucky” Lozano good against his former team with as he led his team with six shots, but he will be without his more productive partner in Anders Dreyer saw a red card in that game in stoppage time. Nobody said it was going to be easy for the most recent MLS expansion team but they have played well enough to be on top of the Western Conference and will need to present all their firepower to get a win against Liga MX´s most dominate teams in the past two decades.
