Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 8y

Andre-Pierre Gignac goal helps Tigres advance, Leon can't overturn CA deficit

France international Andre-Pierre Gignac continued his fine goal-scoring form on Saturday, netting the only goal as Tigres overcame Chiapas 1-0 to advance to the Liga MX Apertura 2015 semifinals.

Gignac also scored in the 2-1 victory in the first leg last Wednesday and now has 13 goals in 17 Liga MX matches since joining Tigres last June.

Tigres started the Liguilla as one of the favorites to lift the title -- despite a fifth-place finish in the regular season -- and are the first team to qualify for the Apertura semis, which are scheduled to be played next week.

Gignac struck a fierce shot from outside the penalty area into the corner of the net in the 21st minute, with Rafael Sobis setting the 29-year-old up with a deft touch.

The Frenchman also hit the crossbar in the 29th minute in a game Tigres largely dominated.

Ricardo La Volpe's Chiapas were underdogs for the tie and struggled to create any real chances over the 90 minutes.

In Saturday's other match, Club America lost 2-1 to Leon in their quarterfinal second leg, but advanced 5-3 on aggregate.

Hernan Burbano opened the scoring for Leon just before halftime, before Dario Benedetto equalized for America in Estadio Leon with a golazo from 30 in the 78th minute. Elias Hernandez then gave Leon a glimmer of hope with a strike seven minutes from time, but in the end it wasn't enough drag his side back into the contest.

America played more defensively than usual and used two holding midfielders, in the knowledge that Leon had to attack to overturn the 4-1 defeat in last Wednesday's first leg inside Estadio Azteca.

Leon pushed for an early goal, but striker Mauro Boselli put two first half chances wide and it wasn't until the 44th minute that Burbano volleyed in to hand La Fiera the lead.

America counter-attacked strongly in the second half and Leon goalkeeper William Yarbrough was forced into a string of difficult saves, before Benedetto's goal practically ended Leon's chances of advancing.

Club America is in the hunt for its 13th Mexican first division title and looking to extend its lead on Chivas (12 titles).

The quarterfinal second legs of Toluca against Puebla and Pumas versus Veracruz are on Sunday.

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