FC Cincinnati faced off against Tigres UANL on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, drawing 1-1 in the first leg of their Round of 16 series of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The match saw an explosive start with FC Cincinnati taking the lead thanks to Pavel Bucha, who scored just 2 minutes and 34 seconds after kickoff. Bucha found the net with a right-footed shot from the edge of the box to the bottom right corner, assisted by Kévin Denkey. "Pavel Bucha struck with a right-footed shot from the edge of the box to the bottom right corner," the player report stated.
But the Mexican side wasn’t deterred by the early setback and equalized shortly thereafter. Nicolás Ibáñez scored for Tigres UANL at the 17-minute mark, directing the ball to the back of the net with a header, capitalizing on a delivery from Sebastián Córdova. "Nicolás Ibáñez equalized for Tigres, sending the ball to the back of the net with a header inside the penalty area," reported the Concacaf Champions Cup player report.
Both teams created opportunities but failed to break the deadlock again during the match. FC Cincinnati's goalkeeper, Roman Celentano, had three saves, demonstrating solid defense, whereas Tigres’ Nahuel Guzmán had five saves, showing his skill under pressure. This combination of efforts meant the scores remained level as the teams moved forward.
Tigres UANL holds a strong record against Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, remaining unbeaten over their last 15 encounters with MLS sides. This impressive streak comprises eight wins and seven draws, making them formidable opponents for FC Cincinnati. The current performance adds to their unprecedented dominance, as no other team has gone more than eight matches against MLS opponents without defeat since 2008.
Pavel Bucha's goal marked not just the game's opening strike but also set the record for the fastest goal ever scored by an MLS team against Liga MX opposition throughout the history of the Concacaf Champions Cup. This statistic shines even brighter as Bucha's strike came just past the two-and-a-half-minute mark, eclipsing the previous record held by Brek Shea, who scored for Vancouver Whitecaps against Tigres back in April 2017.
Looking toward the future, the second leg of the tie will take place next week at Estadio Universitario located in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico. The stakes could not be higher as both teams vie for advancement to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Tigres holds the advantage on away goals, which will surely influence their approach as they prepare to face Cincinnati again.
Another notable aspect of the match was the performances of Ibáñez and Córdova. The goal by Ibáñez marked his first for Tigres after going 12 matches without finding the net across all competitions. Similarly, Sebastián Córdova, who assisted on the equalizer, had not registered an assist for 15 matches prior to this outing. Such breakthroughs could be pivotal as both players return to form at this key point of the competition.
Looking at Guzmán, the Tigres goalkeeper, his appearance marked him as the first player to reach more than 40 matches played since 2016 within the Concacaf Champions Cup. With 41 matches under his belt, he leads the modern era of this competition, showcasing the experience he brings to the pitch.
Overall, the 1-1 result sets up for an intriguing second leg. With both teams eager to secure advancement, the tactical adjustments and individual performances will be closely monitored. Expectations are sky-high as fans and analysts alike anticipate what this pivotal knockout stage will deliver.