Tigres vs. Necaxa: The Felinos eliminate the Rayos and go after Toluca in the 2025 Clausura Semifinals.

Tigres advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 Clausura after defeating Necaxa 2-2 on aggregate, thanks to their superior position in the standings. The second leg, played at the Estadio Universitario in front of more than 35,000 fans, ended in a draw for the Monterrey team, which will now face Toluca in the next round.

After the 0-0 draw in the first leg, the second leg was intense from the start. The first dangerous play came in the 8th minute, when Juan Purata headed in a cross from Juan Brunetta , although the ball went wide. Tigres had more possession in the first half, but without many clear chances. Necaxa , meanwhile, tried to get close to the opponent's box, although without precision.

With the score at 0-0, Tigres maintained their place in the semifinals. However, in the 51st minute, Brunetta opened the scoring with a shot from inside the box after an assist from Diego Lainez , sparking a home celebration.

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Necaxa responded quickly. In the 63rd minute, Agustín Palavecino tied the game with a powerful long-range shot that beat Nahuel Guzmán . The Rayos continued to press the issue, and in the 86th minute, Tomás Badaloni scored the second with a header after a cross from Emilio Lara . The goal seemed to change the course of the series.

But Tigres ' reaction was immediate. Just a few minutes later, a tangled play in Necaxa 's box ended with an own goal by Daniel Mayorga , who accidentally pushed the ball after a series of rebounds that baffled his goalkeeper, Ezequiel Unsain . The final scoreline was 2-2, sealing the qualification for Guido Pizarro 's team.

In the final minutes, Necaxa pressed, but Guzmán responded with several saves. The elimination left the visitors' efforts unrewarded, as they failed to maintain their lead.

Tigres thus qualified for the semifinals for the third consecutive time, an unprecedented achievement in their recent history. They will now face Toluca , the tournament leader, who advanced after eliminating Rayados 4-3 on aggregate.

The Estadio Universitario remains a difficult venue for Necaxa , which has lost its last three Liga MX away games against Tigres .

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