Enner Valencia brace sends Tigres to Liga MX Apertura final

Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images

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Ecuador international Enner Valencia scored twice as Tigres thrashed nine-man Club America 3-0 on Saturday to advance to the Liga MX 2017 Apertura final.

Valencia opened the scoring 10 minutes after half-time and added his second in the 72nd minute, with Andre-Pierre Gignac completing the scoring from the penalty spot in the 76th.

Club America went into the match 1-0 down from the first leg and needing at least two goals to advance, but always looked second best against a Tigres side now in its third consecutive Liga MX final.

America's task became even more difficult when Argentine midfielder Guido Rodriguez received his second yellow card on the hour mark and Edson Alvarez was shown a straight red card six minutes later.

Tigres sat back more than usual in the first half, but created the better chances, with man-of-the-match Valencia hitting the post just before half-time.

Valencia burst past defender Alvarez and finished for the opener, with America pushing forward, and Tigres took total control after America went down to nine players.

Club America didn't manage to score a single goal over the two quarterfinal and two semifinal matches in the postseason.

Tigres will play Morelia or city rival Monterrey in the final. Monterrey won 1-0 in last Thursday's first leg, with the return leg in Estadio BBVA Bancomer on Sunday.