Tigres Goalkeeper Gets Sent Off Before Penalty Shootout And Replacement Wins It Anyway

Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán was sent off for shoving the referee immediately before a penalty shootout against Vancouver Whitecaps, leaving his replacement to come on and help win it instead.

Tigres had taken the lead through Rodrigo Aguirre before Emmanuel Sabbi equalised for Vancouver in the 79th minute, setting up a chaotic conclusion to their Leagues Cup meeting.

Diego Lainez was the first Tigres player to depart, receiving a red card in the 88th minute following his protests towards referee Iván Barton. With Tigres reduced to ten men and the scores level, Guzmán then became involved in his own confrontation with the referee during stoppage time.

The goalkeeper had come forward as Tigres attempted to restart play quickly near midfield, but after Barton prevented the restart, Guzmán shoved the referee and was also dismissed.

His frustration continued on the way to the dressing room, where footage showed him throwing a bin and kicking and throwing a chair. Tigres were left with nine players and, with the match heading towards penalties, without the goalkeeper who had started it.

Reserve goalkeeper Carlos Rodríguez was brought on for the shootout and proceeded to save two Vancouver penalties as Tigres won 5-4.

It was a particularly useful contribution given the circumstances in which his involvement had become necessary.

Guzmán had been Tigres’ goalkeeper with only minutes remaining and would ordinarily have been expected to play a significant role in the shootout. Instead, his dismissal meant Rodríguez was required to take his place with the match still to be decided.

The replacement goalkeeper then became one of the decisive players in deciding it.

Tigres had finished the match with nine men, lost their first-choice goalkeeper immediately before penalties and still emerged with the shootout victory.

They had found a solution to a problem they had created only minutes earlier.