EDINBURG — Midway through the opening half of Saturday’s exhibition against Club Atlas at H-E-B Park, Tigres UANL forward Julian Quinones smashed a penalty kick off the crossbar.
His try in the 23rd minute following Atlas’ handball in the box was hit with such force that it ricocheted back out toward the midfield area. But for all the power behind Quinones’ shot, Atlas still held the one-goal lead.
Less than 30 seconds into the second half, Quinones atoned for his first-half error. He took possession about 25 yards from goal, made a few patient touches and unleashed a shot into the left side of the net from just outside the top of the box to lift Tigres to an eventual 1-1 draw against Atlas.
His scoring strike ignited the decidedly pro-Tigres crowd of 5,270 at H-E-B Park. The Edinburg venue was hosting a Liga MX side for the seventh time in its 18-month history. Saturday marked the fourth time two Liga MX sides had locked horns on the H-E-B Park pitch, and the second time Tigres had appeared.
The goal from Quinones answered a 13th-minute strike by Atlas’ Edyairth Ortega, who fired the ball into the left side of the net on his first touch from just beyond the penalty area.
Fans who braved the 98-degree temperatures of the 5 p.m. kickoff had the opportunity to see Tigres fan favorites including leading scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac, former Mexican national team player Jorge Torres Nilo, and former Argentine national team player Guido Pizarro.
Tigres are 4-3-1 on the season for 13 points and a seventh-place standing in the Liga MX Apertura 2018 season. Atlas sits 0-6-2 with two points.
UANL returns to action with a match against C.F. Pachuca on Sept. 15.
