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Liga MX: Holders Necaxa, América, Chivas reach Copa knockout stage

By Thomas Buckley

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - AUGUST 07: Claudio Riaño (C) of Necaxa celebrates after the first goal of his team during the match between Pumas UNAM and Necaxa as part of the Copa MX Apertura 2018 at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on August 7, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - AUGUST 07: Claudio Riaño (C) of Necaxa celebrates after the first goal of his team during the match between Pumas UNAM and Necaxa as part of the Copa MX Apertura 2018 at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on August 7, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Defending champion Necaxa and three other Liga MX teams booked spots in the knockout stage of the Copa MX with wins Tuesday night.

Four more Round 5 matches are set for Wednesday night with 12 spots still up for grabs.

Necaxa 1, UNAM 0

Holders Necaxa scored a nifty goal and made it stand up against a desperate Pumas team that peppered Yosgart Gutiérrez with shots throughout the match, even hitting the post with a free kick in minute 88.

José Medina let fly with a 25-meter shot in minute 12 that short-hopped UNAM goalie Alfredo Saldívar and Martín Barragan was first to the rebound. The Rayos striker back-heeled the loose ball toward the center of the box and Daniel “Fideo” Álvarez slotted home.

Necaxa’s second-team line-up gave up a lot of space and UNAM found room for long-distance shots throughout the first half, but Gutiérrez made several sparkling saves. UNAM was more workmanlike in the second half, but failed to find the net.

With the win, Necaxa clinched the top spot in Group 4 while UNAM will have to defeat Tampico Madero next week and hope to advance as a second-place team.

América 3, Dorados 1

Henry Martín and Bruno Valdez scored in the first 15 minutes at a soggy Estadio Azteca and coasted to an easy win over the visitors from Sinaloa. The Dorados narrowed the deficit in minute 38 with a goal by José Alberto García but the soaked pitch made ball control difficult.

Cecilio Domínguez scored in second-half injury time and the Águilas finished in first in Group 7. If the Dorados defeat Veracruz next week at home, they most likely will reach the knockout stage.

Monterrey 3, Mérida 2

The Rayados didn’t use all their starters but played with mostly a first-team line-up but still struggled to put away the visitors from Yucatán.

Jonathan Urretaviscaya put Monterrey on the board first in minute 3, but the feisty Venados scored twice in the next 15 minutes and took the lead into the locker room at halftime.

Coach Diego Alonso sent on his starting strike force (Dorlan Pabón and Luis Madrigal) to open the second half and he was rewarded with an equalizer from Carlos Rodríguez in minute 53.

A tie would have clinched first place for Monterrey but Madrigal persisted and knocked home the game-winner 5 minutes into injury time.

Monterrey moves on as Group 1 winner, while Puebla can claim a spot in the knockout stage by defeating Mérida next week.

Morelia 1, Guadalajara 2

The Chivas continued their run of good play with a solid road win at Morelia.

The hosts scored first just after the half-hour mark but former Monarcas player Ángel Sepúlveda chested home a long cross right in front of goal to knot the score just before halftime. In minute 72, José de Jesús Godínez fired home the winner to finish off a rapid fast break and clinch first place in Group 8.

Morelia will have to defeat Oaxaca next week to stay alive in the Copa MX.

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Querétaro 1, León 0

The Gallos Blancos scored at home just before the final whistle to deny León the top spot in a very tight Group C. Aldo Arellano netted the winner in minute 90+5 to keep Querétaro alive in the Cup.

Querétaro needs only a tie next week at Zacatecas to claim first place in the group, but the Mineros can secure first place by winning by 2 goals or more. León can only wait and see if it is 1 of the 7 second-place teams that advances to the knockout stage.

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