Tigres upend Pumas in International Friendly

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 17, 2018) Under clear skies and a brisk 71 degress, hard-core and passionate soccer fans filled Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday afternoon  to witness two historic and storied Mexican programs battle each other in an international exhibition game.

The friendy match saw Tigres UANL score one goal in each of the two halves to down UNAM Pumas by the score of 2-0. The first half saw forward Eduardo Vargas (shown below, #9 in blue) take a pass from fellow forward Andre Gignac (shown above, #10 in blue) and slip it past goalkeeper Miguel Fraga in the 21st minute for the first goal of the game.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

They added their second goal 46 minutes later, in the 67th minute, when Gignac got in on the receiving end of a pass for the Tigres' second goal. Midfielder Raul Torres send the ball to Gignac, who again drilled it past Fraga for the score.

Tigres took eight shots in the match, with two of them on goal, while Pumas had seven shots, with two also on goal. Nine yellow flags were issued; five to Pumas and four to Tigres; for various and assorted infractions.

As soon as the game was completed, the grounds crew quicky coverted the soccer pitch to a football field, for the second game of the double header at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Texas Southern Tigers had a 7:30 p.m. CST match up against SWAC rival Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The next international friendly soccer match at BBVA Compass Stadium is set for Saturday, December 29 where Club America will face Santos Laguna with a scheduled 4:30 p.m. start.