Tigres UANL 5-1 FC Cincinnati (5-4 agg): MLS side crash out of Champions Cup

FC Cincinnati crashed out of the Champions Cup after Fernando Gorriaran's stunning last-gasp strike sent Tigres UANL through to the quarter-finals in a 5-4 aggregate triumph.

Despite surrendering their advantage after a 3-0 first-leg win, the MLS side looked set to progress via the away-goal rule with the tie level at 4-4, only for Gorriarin to deny them in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Cincinnati entered the second leg at Estadio Universitario having scored 16 times without reply, but they conceded twice in the opening 10 minutes to Rodrigo Aguirre and Ozziel Herrera.

Herrera added his second with a thumping long-range strike just after half-time, before his cross was superbly volleyed home by Aguirre, who completed a stunning turnaround.

Nevertheless, Cincinnati regained control of the tie in the 65th minute, when Kevin Denkey headed home Evander's free-kick for his fourth goal of the tournament.

However, there was to be one last twist, as Gorriarin struck with virtually the last kick of the game for the LIGA MX side, setting up a quarter-final clash with Seattle Sounders.

There were no such problems for LA Galaxy, who cruised into the last eight after completing a comfortable 6-0 aggregate victory over Mount Pleasant.

Joao Klauss opened the scoring at the National Stadium, with in-form Gabriel Pec, who netted a hat-trick in the first leg, scoring a brace to secure a quarter-final showdown with Toluca.

What a way to finish off the Round of 16!pic.twitter.com/Zwh9GLDb5c

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 20, 2026

Data Debrief: Late drama downs Cincinnati

Tigres UANL progressed courtesy of their latest goal in the Champions Cup since detailed data records began in 2017, with Gorriarin's winner timed at 97 minutes and 54 seconds.

Veteran Andre-Pierre Gignac provided the assist and, at 40 years and 104 days, became the oldest player to do so in the competition.

Tigres were quick out of the blocks, becoming the second team to score twice in the opening 10 minutes of a Champions Cup match this season, after Philadelphia Union did the same against Defence Force.

Meanwhile, LA Galaxy kept a clean sheet across both legs of a Champions Cup series for the first time since at least 2008, while extending American clubs' unbeaten streak against Jamaican teams in the competition (W9 D1).