February 3 – Forge FC’s debut goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud welded his goal shut to keep out a marauding Tigres UANL for a 0-0 first leg draw in Hamilton, Canada.
It was a big performance from the Canadians who were only formed in 2019 but are already in their fourth Champions Cup. They have been knocked out every time by Liga MX teams and are yet to get a win in the competition but they have now given themselves an outside chance to progress to the last 16.
Bertaud’s seven saves and numerous defensive blocks were the foundation.
Tigres came out of the blocks with an intent to provide a goal-fest. Veteran French forward and the club’s leading scorer André-Pierre Gignac started the peppering of the Forge goal in the sixth minute with a right footed shot from outside the box that was comfortably saved in the centre of the goal by Bertaud.
Gignac was denied twice more in the first half, while Jean Vigon and Juan Brunetta both missed twice. Marcelo Flores looked to have opened the scoring on 43’ for Tigres with a half volley from outside the box, but the flying Bertaud arrived to tip it over the bar.
The best chance for the Canadians came in the 17’, with a Ben Paton left-footed strike inside the six-yard box that rolled across the face of the goal.
With no score at half time and Tigres already having thrown everything, including the dressing room sink, at the Forge goal, Gignac was replaced by Edgar Lopez and
It made little difference. Tigres continued to miss, Forge defenders continued to block and Bertaud was unbeatable. Brunetta will have a sleepless night after a second half that should have seen walk away with a hat-trick.
On 64’ minutes he thought he had broken the deadlock but not even VAR could give him a break after a review ruled him offside.
As the game progressed Forge grew in confidence and started to build passages of possession of their own.
Hoce Massunda, Marko Jevremovic, Ismael Oketokun, Brian Wright and Rezart Rama all had chances.
The two clubs meet again in the second leg on February 10 at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. With their confident finish an upset and first Champions Cup win for Forge is no longer beyond the realms of possibility and they will likely only get better. Tigres will be wondering what they have to do score.
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]