May 6 – A Juan Brunetta goal was enough for Tigres UANL to secure their place in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup final with a 1-0 win over Nashville SC in the Second Leg of their semi-final series at a packed out Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León.
Tigres won the series 2-0 on aggregate, maintaining their record of never having lost to an MLS team at home in their El Volcan cauldron in Concacaf club competitions.
Tigres were last in the Champions Cup final in 2020, beating LAFC 2-1 in an empty Exploria Stadium in Orlando due to covid restrictions. If LAFC hold on against Toluca on Wednesday evening they will be Tigres’ opponents again in what will be the Mexicans fifth appearance in the finals.
For Nashville it was a creditable run in the competition that saw them become the first MLS team to beat Club America in the iconic Azteca Stadium, but in the end they ran out of steam and personnel.
Having had to leave top scorer Sam Surridge and midfielder Eddi Tagseth at home due to injuries, they then lost another midfielder, Patrick Yazbek in the pre-game warm-up. He was replaced by Bryan Acosta 15 minutes before kick-off.
Tigres started stronger against the rejigged Nashville line-up who struggled to retain meaningful possession in the first 15 minutes, but were once again given shape and heft by their imposing back four and centre backs Jeison Palacios and Maxwell Woledzi in particular who comfortably dealt with any Tigres threat.
The closest Tigres came for all their possession was in the 17th minute when a rebound from a Palacios clearance fell to Uruguyan Rodrigo Aguirre in the box who could only drag his shot wide of Brian Schwacke’s right post.
Even without structured possession it was Nashville who looked more likely score. In the 19th minute Warren Madrigal found himself in space in the box in front of goal but was unable control the ball, turn and shoot. The Costa Rican had another opportunity 13 minutes later with the ball fired into the box, but he was again unable to make meaningful contact with the ball. He did make meaningful contact with two Tigres defenders and received a yellow card for it.
It was Madrigal again five minutes later who, starting to show a better touch, collected the ball just inside the Tigres half and drove towards goal, being brought down on the edge of the box. Club captain Hany Mukhtar, so often the saviour in this Champions Cup, lined up the free kick that sailed harmlessly over the top.
It summed up the attacks of both teams. A flurry of action at the end of the half at both ends didn’t break the deadlock and the teams went in at the break with everything still to play for.
The second half started with more of the same but with both coaches making changes around the hour mark, a greater sense of urgency was building.
BJ Callaghan added striker Woobens Pacius in a search for goals, while Guido Pizarro sent in winger Diego Lainez.
In the 67th minute the deadlock was broken following a momentary lapse from Nashvilles previously rock solid defence.
Schwake uncharacteristically sliced a clearance in the stands. A quick Tigres throw-in found Nashville flatfooted and outnumbered in the box as the ball was worked to Brunetta who made no mistake from 6m out.
Callaghan rapidly worked his bench again but it was game and Champions Cup over for Nashville, and joy around the erupting El Volcan.
Champions Cup semi-final, second leg. Tigres UANL 1 Nashville 0. (Tigres win 2-0 in aggregate).