Tigres wins first leg of Mexican final at Santos

Torreon, Mexico – Damian Alvarez scored inside 10 minutes and man Santos, 1-0, on Thursday night in the opening match of the Mexican Apertura championship at Estadio Corona.

Argentine winger Alvarez converted a pass from Chilean striker Hector Mancilla from a tight angle in the 8th minute, and Santos went down a man after just 23 minutes when Juan Pablo Rodriguez was handed his marching orders.

Tigres, which had the best defense in the regular season, held on for the slim win as Santos' Oribe Peralta came the closest to tying the score with a shot off the crossbar.

Santos visits Tigres on Sunday for the second leg at Estadio Universitario.