LA GALAXY VS. TIGRES UNAL CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP

It was a cold night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, as LA Galaxy hosted Mexican giants Tigres UNAL in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup. With the reigning MLS champions squaring off against one of Liga MX’s strongest sides, the stage was set for a high-stakes, action-packed clash.

Tigres came into the match with a stacked roster featuring stars like André-Pierre Gignac, Diego Lainez, Uriel Antuna, Marcelo Flores, and Juan Brunetta. The Galaxy, aware of the tough road ahead with the second leg scheduled in Monterrey, knew they had to capitalize on their home-field advantage in this first encounter. Playing in Mexico is a different beast—especially with minimal traveling support—so a strong result in Carson was crucial.

Despite a solid turnout from LA Galaxy fans, the home side was missing key players. Riqui Puig and Marco Reus were unavailable, leaving a gap in the midfield and attacking creativity. Although attackers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil made their return from injury, their lack of match fitness was evident, and it reflected in a lackluster first half.

Tigres looked the more dangerous side early on, with Diego Lainez causing trouble on the left wing. He consistently found space and delivered crosses into the box, but the finishing touch was missing. Both teams struggled to create clear scoring chances, and the first half ended scoreless.

The second half offered a similar pace, with Tigres appearing content to hold possession and slow down the tempo, aiming for a draw on the road. LA Galaxy made changes, including subbing off Paintsil, who showed glimpses of his talent despite still regaining form. Unfortunately, the Galaxy couldn’t find a breakthrough.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw, a missed opportunity for LA Galaxy to take control of the tie before heading to Monterrey for the decisive second leg. With Tigres now returning home to a packed stadium full of passionate fans, the pressure is on the Galaxy to perform in a hostile environment.

This year’s tournament format marks a significant shift, as CONCACAF now allows Liga MX sides to host matches at their home stadiums—something that hadn’t been done in previous years. This change could have major implications for MLS teams, who now face the challenge of competing in the intense atmospheres of Mexican home grounds.

Special thanks to Upper 90 for granting us the opportunity to capture and cover the match.

Written by: Jospeh Hernandez Torrejon Photos Shot by: Jospeh Hernandez Torrejon