Sergio Canales scores first Rayados goal to eliminate Tigres UANL from Leagues Cup

Fernando Ortiz's squad moves on to the tournament quarterfinals where they'll face reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC. The match is programmed for Friday night at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

The Monterrey outfit is one of two remaining Mexican sides in the Leagues Cup. Queretaro is the other, standing on the other side of the bracket — the one with Lionel Messi still in it. 

First Rayados derby win in the U.S.

Only three previous times has the Monterrey Derby been disputed in the United States. Tigres won the first two encounters with the teams tying in the previous meeting, also in Houston, some 13 years ago.

For years, Rayados fans have awaited a player of the caliber to offset Tigres' French superstar Andre-Pierre Gignac. The Santander native most recently played at La Liga side Real Betis with Mexico men's national team legend Andres Guardado, and is the team's marquee addition of the summer.

The Spaniard came off the bench in the previous match at Portland. Tuesday's encounter saw the player start and score for the first time as he was tried as the attacking midfielder and a second striker.

The winner came from the penalty marker as Rayados had a spot kick awarded in the dying moments. With a penalty kick shootout waiting in case of a missed kick, Canales converted with ice-cold precision.

The bitter taste of losing in the playoff semifinals, and seeing Tigres go on to lift an eight-league title, stings less now as Rayados rally behind its newest star. As the strongest Mexican team remaining in the tournament, Tano Ortiz's men carry the hopes of lifting the Leagues Cup for Liga MX.

Tigres eliminated

Robert Siboldi would not mince words about if the penalty call was right or wrong. The Tigres manager highlighted that his players left everything on the field and did what they could control.

The defeat will feel disappointing for the defending Liga MX champions because of the rival but also the names on its roster. The team fields one of the most talented and experienced squads on the continent but has been far from sharp in the cup.

Perhaps the move to start Diego Lainez was partly to blame as Tigres looked more explosive in the second half with midfielder Sebastian Cordova entering the game. Now the team has two weeks off as they prepare to return to the domestic league with the pressure to win.

Cordova continues to return from an injury he sustained with the national team, coincidentally in Houston, prior to the Concacaf Gold Cup last June. A streak of playoff goals saw him play his way into being the club's playoff MVP.

With the money invested into the squad, lifting trophies is the only validation for the University side from Nuevo Leon. Failing to win the Leagues Cup won't be a big strike against Siboldi but it does increase pressure on league results, especially if his team's crosstown rivals go on to win the Leagues Cup.

Another Houston sellout

The Bayou City was once again host to another sold-out match with international flavor. The city's heavy Regio population, along with its proximity to the city of Monterrey, made it the ideal spot to place a last-minute Tuesday match with the lowest face-value ticket starting at $63 with fees.

The first Clasico Regio in over a decade was a certainty to take place in Houston this year with an October friendly selling out last week. Rayados and Tigres moving on in the Leagues Cup provided an advanced screening with the added value of it being an official encounter.

Despite a few thrown objects on the field near the end of the game, it was as close to a successful night on most fronts. It was also another reminder of Houston's hunger for the sport and why the city will be one of the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As for the rivalry, two more chapters are guaranteed with a league encounter next month. The October friendly may not have the same finality as this encounter but it comes with bragging rights nonetheless.