Rotondi and Purata trade goals in Tigres-Cruz Azul first leg draw | OneFootball

SAN NICOLÁS DE LOS GARZA, Mexico – Tigres UANL and Cruz Azul drew 1-1 in the first leg of their semifinals series as the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continued Wednesday at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier had an early intervention in the 8’, punching away a dangerous delivery into the box.

Tigres had a good look in the 29’ following a great build up play, but Javier Aquino’s shot from the center of the box was wide off the mark.

Jorge Sánchez came close to opening the scoring for the visitors in the 48’ with an attempt from inside the box that was high above the crossbar.

Carlos Rotondi found the breakthrough goal for Cruz Azul in the 68’, striking from the center of the penalty area to capitalize on a headed assist from Ángel Sepulveda to give the visitors the lead.

The hosts found the equalizer in 84’ through a Juan Purata headed finish to the near post after a delivery into the box from Juan Brunetta on a free-kick opportunity.

The two sides will meet again next week to play the second leg on Thursday at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. The winner on aggregate will advance to the final.

Post-Match Data

Cruz Azul is unbeaten in its last 12 Concacaf Champions Cup matches when scoring the opening goal (W10 D2). This streak for La Máquina began in the 2021 edition of the tournament.

● Tonight, marked the seventh time since 2016-17 that Tigres trailed in a home match in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Tigres came back to avoid defeat in six of those seven matches (W4 D2 L1).

● Counting Liga MX and Concacaf Champions Cup, Carlos Rotondi has scored in his two most recent matches (v. Toluca in Liga MX and today v. Tigres). The Argentine hadn’t scored in consecutive games since October 2024, with both goals coming in Liga MX.

● The two players that recorded assists on tonight’s goals each rank in the top five in goal contributions in this season’s Concacaf Champions Cup. Ángel Sepúlveda of Cruz Azul leads all players with eight (6 goals, 2 assists) while Juan Brunetta of Tigres is tied for third with four (1 goal, 3 assists).

● Joaquim (Tigres) lead his team in duels won (8) as he ranks third in this stat in the tournament, with 34. He’s only below Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps) with 37 and Denis Bouanga (LAFC) with 36.