Tigres Complete Historic Comeback Against Xolos | OneFootball

What unfolded on the pitch this weekend felt nothing short of miraculous. After a painful 3–0 defeat in the first leg against Xolos, Tigres entered the return match facing what most fans believed was an impossible task. I’ll admit it—I was one of the first to doubt the possibility of a comeback. The team had looked flat, uninspired, and disconnected last Wednesday. But fútbol has a way of flipping the script, and Tigres did exactly that with a performance worthy of historical memory.

On the Front Foot

From the opening whistle, it became clear that head coach Pizarro had no intention of playing cautiously. His decision to start both Nico Ibáñez and André-Pierre Gignac—two natural center forwards—sent a message: Tigres was going to attack relentlessly. And it did. The intensity, energy, and collective fire were evident from the first minutes. Xolos, who had looked confident in the first leg, suddenly appeared overwhelmed and unable to cope with Tigres’ pressure.

The breakthrough came from Ibáñez, who capitalized on Tigres’ early dominance by scoring the first goal only 15 minutes in and igniting hope inside the stadium. The momentum only grew. Shortly after, Ángel Correa was brought down in the box, earning Tigres a penalty. Juan Brunetta—calm and composed—stepped up and buried it to bring the aggregate to 3–2.

But Tigres wasn’t done. In one of the match’s finest moments, Ibáñez delivered a brilliant cross into the area, and Brunetta rose above the defense to head in the third goal just before halftime. In only 39 minutes, Tigres had erased a three-goal deficit that many of us thought would define its season. The stadium erupted, and suddenly the impossible became very real.

The third goal by Ibañez. Note: due to geographic restrictions video may not stream.

Upping the Intensity

The second half continued with the same intensity. Tigres earned another penalty after Pablo Ortiz took down Diego Lainez in the box. This spot kick was taken by Ozziel Herrera, but Xolos’ goalkeeper Antonio Rodríguez made an impressive save. Still, Herrera redeemed himself moments later in the 76th minute by scoring the fourth goal, effectively sealing Xolos’ fate and completing the turnaround that felt like destiny.

Adding a final flourish to the masterpiece, in the 90th minute, Vigón struck the fifth and final goal. This put the aggregate score beyond doubt and sending a message to the rest of the league: Tigres is not just alive—it is dangerous.

A Tale of Two Matches

Compared to the first leg, this match was a complete 180-degree transformation. Tigres rediscovered its identity, aggression, and hunger. It reminded everyone why it is once again a favorite to compete for the championship. As a fan, the skepticism I felt days earlier has now turned into full-blown optimism.

As for Xolos, its performance was disappointing. Its best player was unquestionably its goalkeeper, and even he could do little to prevent the five goals that ended the team’s aspirations. Now Tigres waits to see its semifinal foe. It could be Monterrey or Cruz Azul—meaning we are either headed toward a fiery Clásico Regio or a high-stakes Clásico del Cemento. Either way, Tigres has shown it is ready for anyone.