Players Who Need to Step Up in Liga MX Final 2nd Leg
UANL took advantage of playing at Estadio Universitario and secured a 1-0 win over America during the first leg of the 2014 Apertura final.
Las Aguilas have had tough times while playing at El Volcan before. The last time they won there was in the 2009 Clausura tournament.
Most of America's problems were in the back line. However, their forwards couldn't make the most out of the few opportunities they got.
In return, Tigres came out with great attitude. They attacked as much as possible and Joffre Guerron scored the winner with a powerful header, leaving behind two defenders.
Let's take a look at some players who need to step up in the second leg.
Ventura Alvarado (America)
1 of 5
America are certainly missing Paul Aguilar. Ventura Alvarado is replacing the Mexico international with poor results.
In the first leg, he didn't create a single goalscoring opportunity, despite completing 70 percent of the passes he sent.
Alvarado struggled to hold off Damian Alvarez, who assisted Joffre Guerron, and only won 45 percent of the duels in which he was involved.
The defender barely stepped into Tigres' half, this meant less goal opportunities for America.
Coach Antonio Mohamed's strategy relies heavily in the attack through the flanks. Therefore, Alvarado must take control of the right sideline in order to create plays, either with through balls or crosses.
Gerardo Lugo (UANL)
2 of 5
Tigres needed a brilliant play from Joffre Guerron to make a difference in the score, despite having a powerful attacker through the right flank.
Gerardo Lugo was far from showing his true potential, while Osmar Mares showed his defensive skills to hold off Lugo on a regular basis.
Lugo only made one shot in 88 minutes, and he sent it off target. He delivered three crosses but failed to complete them all. His average pass accuracy equaled 79 percent.
He failed to provide depth and spent most of the time in the midfield rather than unbalancing America's back line.
Oribe Peralta (America)
3 of 5
Oribe Peralta hasn't scored since November 22, when Atlas defeated America 2-1.
Against UANL, El Hermoso didn't even shoot once. He only sent one key pass and had an average pass accuracy of 71 percent.
Since Las Aguila's defensive line was struggling, the flying full-backs (Osmar Mares and Ventura Alvarado) couldn't fulfil their attacking duties, which limited the side to creating plays, mostly, through the center of the pitch.
Peralta spent more time outside the box, trying to keep the ball and organizing his teammates, rather than pushing himself to surprise Tigres' goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.
Jorge Estrada (UANL)
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Although UANL left Estadio Universitario with a one-goal advantage, Jorge Estrada failed to convince.
El Gutty started the game in his usual position, guarding the right flank. However, he failed to feed balls to the midfielders and was overpowered by Miguel Layun constantly.
This pushed Jesus Duenas to help him cover the Mexico international, which led to breaking the link with the attacking zone.
Estrada won 15 percent of the duels in which he was involved, plus he only made two interceptions and one clearance.
If Layun can again find the way to partner with Rubens Sambueza or Luis Gabriel Rey, Estrada will be in deep trouble.
Pablo Aguilar (America)
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Pablo Aguilar was one of the America defenders who struggled the most.
Not only did he fail to cover Joffre Guerron in the play in which Tigres scored, but he also received a yellow card for a rough tackle on the goalscorer.
Aguilar left the box constantly, playing just behind the midfielders, which compromised America's back line on a regular basis—he left Paolo Goltz to defend by himself.
The center back only won 22 percent of his duels and completed 75 percent of the passes he sent, misfiring on mostly long ones.
Aguilar needs to take advantage of his international experience to make a real impact in the second leg.
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