Real Estelí Shocks Tigres in Concacaf Champions Cup Upset
Nicaraguan team secures historic victory at home against Mexican powerhouse in 2025 tournament.
Real Estelí, the Nicaraguan football club, continues to impress with its formidable home record at the Estadio Independencia after securing a surprise 1-0 victory against Tigres UANL of Mexico in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The decisive goal came from Argentine forward Francisco Grahl in the 83rd minute of the match, marking a significant achievement for the team.
This win is particularly noteworthy as it denotes the first loss for a Liga MX team in the current edition of the tournament, according to reports from Mexican sports network TUDN.
In their debut match of the tournament, Tigres experienced a setback reminiscent of the previous year's competition when they lost to Real Estelí's regional rivals, Club América, at the same venue.
Real Estelí has previously claimed victories against other notable teams in regional competitions, including wins over Club América and Deportivo Saprissa, as well as a strong showing against Olimpia of Honduras in the past.
Their solid home performance, bolstered by local support, has established them as a formidable opponent in international matches.
In addition to Grahl’s pivotal goal, the match featured key contributions from players including Jason Vega, the Nicaraguan goalkeeper, who displayed a distinguished performance throughout the game.
Tigres' lineup consisted of a blend of first-team and substitute players, which did not yield the expected results, raising questions about their effectiveness in this encounter.
The team, led by Serbian coach Veljko Paunović, will look to recover from this defeat in their next match against Real Estelí, scheduled for 12 February 2025, at the Estadio Universitario, also known as 'El Volcán.' Tigres will enter this match seeking to overturn the result from the first leg and advance in the tournament.
The decisive goal came from Argentine forward Francisco Grahl in the 83rd minute of the match, marking a significant achievement for the team.
This win is particularly noteworthy as it denotes the first loss for a Liga MX team in the current edition of the tournament, according to reports from Mexican sports network TUDN.
In their debut match of the tournament, Tigres experienced a setback reminiscent of the previous year's competition when they lost to Real Estelí's regional rivals, Club América, at the same venue.
Real Estelí has previously claimed victories against other notable teams in regional competitions, including wins over Club América and Deportivo Saprissa, as well as a strong showing against Olimpia of Honduras in the past.
Their solid home performance, bolstered by local support, has established them as a formidable opponent in international matches.
In addition to Grahl’s pivotal goal, the match featured key contributions from players including Jason Vega, the Nicaraguan goalkeeper, who displayed a distinguished performance throughout the game.
Tigres' lineup consisted of a blend of first-team and substitute players, which did not yield the expected results, raising questions about their effectiveness in this encounter.
The team, led by Serbian coach Veljko Paunović, will look to recover from this defeat in their next match against Real Estelí, scheduled for 12 February 2025, at the Estadio Universitario, also known as 'El Volcán.' Tigres will enter this match seeking to overturn the result from the first leg and advance in the tournament.
