CONCACAF semi-finals tantalisingly poised
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Suspense, uncertainty and tension. The first legs of the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals have been and gone, and the scorelines speak for themselves. Two goalless draws have left Queretaro, Tigres, Club America and Santos Laguna with it all still to play for as they look to reach the final, in which a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 will be up for grabs.
FIFA.com rounds up this week's action.
The matches
Queretaro 0-0 Tigres, Tuesday 15 March, La Corregidora stadium, Queretaro (Mexico)
Both teams had plenty of attacking moments over the course of the 90 minutes, but no goals were to be had. The visitors began the first half on the front foot, but hosts Los Gallos Blancos (The White Roosters) were able to gradually fend off Los Felinos (The Felines) and start creating their own openings. It became an end-to-end encounter, but both sides' finishing seemed to have deserted them, as exemplified when Angel Sepulveda and Edgar Benitez both spurned good chances to give Queretaro the lead shortly before half-time.
The start of the second period followed the same pattern, with possession and the initiative regularly changing hands, but the teams grew cagier as the match wore on and increasingly cancelled each other out in midfield. French forward Andre-Pierre Gignac had an opportunity to snatch a winner in stoppage time, only to send his effort way off target.
Santos Laguna 0-0 Club America, Wednesday 16 March, TSM Corona stadium, Torreon (Mexico)
Both sides' game plans were plain to see right from kick-off. Santos Laguna set out their stall to keep it tight at the back and then looked to surge forward to exploit the space left in behind by America's more attack-minded approach. The away side's extra sense of adventure came close to paying dividends in the opening 45 minutes: Michael Arroyo hit the post, Rubens Sambueza screwed a shot wide and home goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin had to be at full stretch to repel Oribe Peralta's venomous attempt.
The hosts showed more ambition going forward after the break, the introduction of Andres Renteria and Bryan Rabello helping them to pose a greater threat. The game swung back and forth in the last ten minutes, with sights of goal at both ends. However, both shot-stoppers dealt with everything that was thrown at them to keep it all square and seal a scoreless week in the competition.
Player of the week
Santos Laguna captain Carlos Izquierdoz played a pivotal role in holding things together for his side under the pressure which coach Luis Zubeldia's tactics invited on them. The 27-year-old Argentinian defender consummately marshalled his backline, barking out orders and always being in the right place at the right time to provide cover, in the process ensuring that goalkeeper Marchesin was not troubled too often over the 90 minutes, in spite of the waves of Club America attacks.
The stat
1 -This is the first time in the history of the CONCACAF Champions League that both semi-final first legs have finished goalless.
What they said
"I'm not daunted by the return leg. When you see that your team are committed to the cause, when they dictate the ball for several stretches of the game and create chances, it gives you confidence that you're right in it. We come away satisfied, if not totally happy with the match because the aim is always to win."
Queretaro coach Victor Manuel Vucetich
Have your say
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