MEXICO CITY, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac converted a late penalty as Tigres UANL edged toward a place in the Liga MX semifinals on Thursday with a 1-0 home win over Pachuca.
Gignac held his nerve with the 88th-minute spot-kick after Victor Guzman brought down Guido Pizarro.
In Thursday's only other quarterfinal first leg, Toluca clinched a 4-3 home victory over 10-man Santos Laguna. Brazilian Camilo Sanvezzo scored either side of halftime while Carlos Gonzalez and Tiago Volpi were also on the scoresheet.
The visitors were forced to endure the last 12 minutes with 10 men following Juan Brunetta's rash challenge on Claudio Baeza.
The quarterfinal second-leg fixtures will be played on Saturday and Sunday. ■
