Gignac's Double Sends Tigres UANL to FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals

The Tigres UANL legend's two goals secured a 2-1 win over Ulsan Hyundai and a date vs. Palmeiras.

Andre-Pierre Gignac added to his legend at Tigres UANL, with his two goals sending the Mexican power to the semifinals at the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.

Tigres beat Asian champion Ulsan Hyundai, 2-1, on Thursday, setting up a semifinal showdown vs. Copa Libertadores winner Palmeiras on Sunday.

Tigres beat LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League final–on Gignac's late goal–to reach the Club World Cup, and it was another player with some MLS ties that opened the scoring for Ulsan Hyundai. Former Seattle Sounders defender Kim Kee-hee completed a near-post run and glanced home a header off a corner kick in the 24th minute.

Former Seattle Sounders defender Kim Kee-hee heads one in off the near-post run, and Ulsan Hyundai leads Concacaf champion Tigres at the FIFA Club World Cup

(via @FoxDeportes) pic.twitter.com/6x3bppvS01

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 4, 2021

Kim was on the wrong end of the next two goals, though. First, Tigres equalized off a corner kick of their own, with Gignac losing Kim and getting free at the far post to volley home a flicked-on header.

Tigres equalizes through–who else?–Andre-Pierre Gignac. 1-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup, where the winner here gets a shot at Copa Libertadores champion Palmeiras

(via @FoxDeportes)pic.twitter.com/71YZwy6r9h

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 4, 2021

Kim was then guilty of a handball, caught by video review, just before halftime. That gifted Gignac the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

¿Penal para @TigresOficial? 👀 #MDCenFD #ClubWC @RodolfoLanderos @marianot19 @SirJohnLaguna @emperadorsuarez pic.twitter.com/ky1jQq9NSG

— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) February 4, 2021

It's Gignac at the double! The Frenchman fires home a penalty after a VAR review, and Tigres will take the lead into halftime #ClubWC

(via @FoxDeportes) pic.twitter.com/lYqGMpZkNf

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 4, 2021

Ulsan Hyundai had a gorgeous would-be equalizer ruled out for offside, with Yoon Bit-garam just a step off before settling a ball over the top with his chest and turning to volley in one motion.

The offside flag goes up to take away an absolute gem of a would-be goal by Ulsan Hyundai #ClubWC 😳

(via @FoxDeportes) pic.twitter.com/cuZMfbmoPW

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 4, 2021

Tigres prevailed, though, and will look to become the first Concacaf participant to reach the final. European clubs have dominated the competition that features the continental champions from around the world, winning 12 of the 16 titles (and 12 of the last 13). Brazilian sides account for the other four.

Bayern Munich looms on the other side of the bracket and is the favorite to win it for a second time (2013).