FC Cincinnati's 1-1 draw against Tigres UANL is a better result than it feels | OneFootball

After a dream start, FC Cincinnati were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home in Leg 1 of their Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 series against Tigres UANL of Liga MX.

The result is clearly better for Tigres, one of Mexico's most successful clubs in recent years, in a competition in which Mexican teams have dominated their northern MLS neighbors. But it's not as bad for Cincinnati as some might think. Here's why:

The away goals rule

Obviously, Cincy can't succumb to defeat in the return leg in San Nicolas de los Garza in a week's time. But so long as they score a goal, a draw would do the MLS visitors just fine.

If it's 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, it would go to extra time and potentially penalties. That's the exact route Columbus took last year, earning 1-1 draws in both legs before outlasting Tigres on penalties in an instant classic quarterfinal. If it's 2-2 or higher, Cincy would advance automatically via the away-goals tiebreaker.

No elevation

Although MLS teams have generaly fared woefully in their matches on Mexican soil, the home-field advantage of the two Nueva Leon sides (Tigres, CF Monterrey) who are regular competition entrants just isn't as strong.

That's because Greater Monterrey is less than 2,000 feet above sea level, meaning their is no noticeable impact of elevation on visiting players. That's not the case in other trips in Concacaf play to Mexico City, Guadalajara, Pachuca and so on.

Tigres' spotty recent history

And if there's one team that may not feel as confident in a second leg at home against an MLS foe, it's Tigres, who have a spotty history in recent situations.

In 2018, Tiges lost 2-1 at Toronto in Leg 1 of their quarterfinal, then could only pull off a 3-2 victory at home in Leg 2 as the Reds advanced on away goals. They also hosted Leg 2 of that Columbus series, in which both legs finished 1-1 before the Crew's penalty kick triumph.

Cincy's counter comfort

And in some ways, Cincinnati's counter-pressing game model is almost better suited for playing as an away side, where they can rely on opponents trying to be the protagonists.

That was certainly the case in MLS last season, when Pat Noonan's group scored 32 goals and boasted a +6 goal differential in away matches, against only 26 goals scored and a +4 goal differential at home. They were one of only two teams in MLS with a better goal difference on the road.