Tigres edge LAFC to book Club World Cup ticket

• Tigres crowned 2020 Concacaf Champions League winners
• Monterrey club will represent Concacaf at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™
• Andre-Pierre Gignac scored the winning goal

It was fourth time's the charm for Tigres as they came from behind to beat Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League final in Orlando, Florida. The Mexican giants had lost their previous three continental finals, but Andre-Pierre Gignac - the club's all-time leading goalscorer - made sure that they would finally be travelling back to Monterrey with the trophy in tow.

The Frenchman scored the winning goal in the 84th minute and ensured Tigres will be the region's representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ in February.

Clear goalscoring opportunities were hard to come by in the first half in a physical matchup that saw tough challenges and fouls made on both sides. 2020 MLS MVP Diego Rossi had the best opportunity of the opening half but his shot on the edge of the penalty area flew well over Nahuel Guzman’s crossbar.

LAFC started out strongly in the second half, putting sustained pressure on Tigres' backline with a high press and, eventually, Bob Bradley's side were awarded for their energy in the 61st minute. After a neat exchange of passes between Mark-Anthony Kaye and Carlos Vela, Kaye lofted in a perfectly-weighted pass to the far post for Rossi, who reacted quickest and delicately guided his shot over Guzman for the opening goal.

Tigres responded ten minutes later by equalising from a corner kick. Their stalwart centre-back Hugo Ayala beat his marker to the near post and headed in, the pace of his effort proving too much for Kaye, who failed in his attempt to make the clearance at LAFC's back post.

The club from Monterrey completed their comeback in the 84th minute. Right-back Luis Rodriguez dribbled a great distance before laying off for Gignac, who did the rest and finished with an incisive shot that left LAFC keeper Kenneth Vermeer's feet planted in the Orlando grass.

Tigres will represent Concacaf at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ in February 2021, where they will join Al Ahly (CAF Champions League winners), Bayern Munich (UEFA Champions League winners), Ulsan (AFC Champions League winners), Auckland City (OFC), the winners of the Copa Libertadores (determined in January 2021) and hosts Al Duhail.

What they said

"Today was our day as a club. We had the character to come back. Shout out to Monterrey. This is for the people of Monterrey, the office workers, this is for them."
Andre-Pierre Gignac

Tournament awards

Golden Glove: Nahuel Guzman (Tigres)

Golden Boot: Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres) - 6 goals

Young Player Award: Diego Palacios (LAFC)

Golden Ball: Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres)