In the early stages of the match, Tigre showcased a brilliant piece of artistry from their player, the Matador. Coming off their first victory under coach Sebastián Domínguez against Argentinos, Tigre brought that momentum into their game against Central Córdoba from Santiago del Estero, on the seventh matchday of the Liga Profesional. Fans hardly waited 18 seconds before erupting in celebration, thanks to a stunning goal that featured an impressive rabona assist.
Interestingly, despite the speed of the goal, it was the Ferroviario who kicked off the game. They attempted a long ball that quickly fell into the hands of Tigre’s defense at the José Dellagiovanna stadium. Defender Martín Ortega cleared the ball, and after some quick teamwork, Blas Armoa extended the play for Florián Monzón, who would become the standout star of this sequence, even though he didn’t score.
The 23-year-old forward, son of legendary defender Pedro Damián Monzón—who was a World Cup runner-up with Argentina in 1990—showed impressive speed. He advanced to the edge of the goal, and just as it seemed the ball could roll out of bounds, he made a deft move to outmaneuver his marker. He paused momentarily before executing a remarkable deep rabona, which soared over goalkeeper Luis Ingolotti and found the head of Tomás Galván, who easily completed the scoring with a header to make it 1-0.
Teammates quickly surrounded Monzón, who developed his skills at Vélez before stints with Platense, Almirante Brown, and the Portland Timbers’ youth team in the MLS. ESPN’s account on X (formerly Twitter) celebrated the assist, proclaiming it the “BEST ASSIST of the year,” capturing the excitement that spread through social media and turned Monzón into a trending topic.
However, the team led by Colombian coach Lucas González fought back and equalized 13 minutes before the match ended. Luis Miguel Angulo showcased his tenacity, battling for the ball twice, benefiting from a lucky bounce, and finishing with a cross that left the home crowd in disappointment. Despite Tigre’s efforts to regain the lead as the match drew to a close, the score remained unchanged.
Both teams continue to find themselves near the bottom of the annual standings, battling relegation. Tigre has 11 points, while Ferroviario has 12. Their positions in the relegation averages are also concerning, sitting 24th and 26th respectively. These circumstances create a tense atmosphere, even with 20 matches still remaining in the season. Yet, this pressure was momentarily forgotten in light of the beautiful display of football that the quick opening goal represented.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/deportes/2024/07/26/cinco-toques-y-un-pase-gol-de-rabona-el-grito-de-tigre-a-los-18-segundos-del-partido-ante-central-cordoba-con-la-asistencia-del-ano/
