Mexico’s Tigres advanced to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League after defeating Costa Rica’s Saprissa 5-1 on Tuesday in the return leg of their second-round match, played at the Estadio Universitario.
The Costa Rican side gifted Tigres a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute with Aubrey David’s own goal.
The Ecuadorian Enner Valencia made it 2-0 on a penalty kick just 10 minutes later.
And the rout was on as Valencia scored again within 120 seconds with a shot inside the penalty area off a pass from Jesús Dueñas.
The 4-0 mark was the work of Chilean Eduardo Vargas with a low, crossed shot in the 37th minute.
Saprissa cut the deficit to 4-1 with Mariano Torres’s score in the 45th minute, but it was too little, too late for the Costa Rican squad. Valencia scored again in the second half to complete a hat-trick.
Watch Tigres vs. Saprissa highlights below:
Resumen: ¡Mira las acciones de la victoria de @TigresOficial 5-1 ante @SaprissaOficial! #SCCL2019 #TIGvSAP pic.twitter.com/MrVU4tc9Dt
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 27, 2019
After winning the round with a 5-2 aggregate score, Tigres will face the Houston Dynamo of the United States in the quarterfinals. The Major League Soccer side eliminated Guastatoya from Guatemala.
Costa Rica still has a side in the CONCACAF Champions League. C.S. Herediano faces Atlanta United F.C. on Thursday in Georgia.
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