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Liga MX: Copa MX knockout rounds set pending Atlas-Zacatepec result

By Thomas Buckley

TOLUCA, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 05: Erick Torres (L) of Tijuana fights for the ball with Adrian Mora (R) of Toluca during a group B match between Toluca and Tijuana as part of Copa MX Apertura 2018 at Nemesio Diez Stadium on September 5, 2018 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Angel Castillo/Jam Media/Getty Images)
TOLUCA, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 05: Erick Torres (L) of Tijuana fights for the ball with Adrian Mora (R) of Toluca during a group B match between Toluca and Tijuana as part of Copa MX Apertura 2018 at Nemesio Diez Stadium on September 5, 2018 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Angel Castillo/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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The Copa MX knockout round line-up awaits one final participant and the outcome of the Zacatepec-Atlas game on Sept. 13 affects the seeding of up to 9 teams. As such, the only Round of 16 match-up confirmed at this point is No. 1 seed América vs. No. 16 seed Juárez.

The biggest surprises coming out of this week’s final round of group games saw Morelia fail to advance and Veracruz embarrassed by second division Dorados. Speaking of the Dorados of Sinaloa, they have stolen the headlines with today’s announcement that Diego Maradona will be their new head coach.

Morelia had been playing top-quality soccer until last weekend’s disastrous 4-1 home loss to Querétaro and on Wednesday the Monarcas stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Oaxaca. That result left them with only 4 points from 4 Copa games, not good enough to reach the knockout stage.

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So Morelia joins defending league champ Santos, Toluca (last season’s losing finalist in both the league and the Copa) and Veracruz as the only participating Liga MX clubs failing to reach the Round of 16. If Atlas loses to Zacatepec, the Zorros will also watch the rest of the Copa from home.

The top 6 seeds are set as América, Pachuca, Monterrey and Guadalajara finished the group stage with 10 points from 3-1-0 records. The Águilas claimed the overall top seed thanks to its +8 goal differential (9 goals for, 1 goal against).

Necaxa is slotted in the No. 5 spot and Querétaro is at No. 6, both with 9 points from 3-0-1 records. After that, the seeds from 7 through 15 must await next week’s match in Zacatepec.

If Atlas ties or wins, they advance, but if the Mineros win, then another second division club will reach the Round of 16. As it stands now, 12 teams from Liga MX are in the knockout stage, while from the Ascenso MX the Dorados, the Cafeteros of Tapachula and the Bravos from Cd. Juárez will contend for the Copa MX trophy.

TOP SCORERS

If Atlas wishes to stay in the hunt for the Copa MX trophy, the Zorros must keep a close eye on Josué Mercado. The 23-year-old striker from Xalapa, Veracruz, leads the Copa MX with 4 goals from 3 games.

Trailing the Mineros’ sharpshooter with 3 goals are 8 Liga MX players and Ecuadorian Vinicio Angulo who plays for the Dorados. The other players with 3 goals are Cecilio Domínguez and Henry Martín of América, Martín Cauteruccio (Cruz Azul), Matías Alustiza (UNAM), Edu Vargas (Tigres), Luis Madrigal (Monterrey), Mauro Boselli (León) and Martín Barragán (Necaxa).

América and Monterrey tallied 9 goals through their 4 group games while Pachuca was the only club to complete the group stage without giving up a goal. On the other end of the spectrum, Atlético San Luis gave up 10 goals in four games in Group 9 where their opponents were the Tigres and Tapachula (a 3-0 winner in this week’s final group match which allowed the Cafateleros to leapfrog the Tuneros into the knockout round).

The worst goal-differential in the group stage was posted by Veracruz as the Tiburones went 0-0-4 with only 1 goal scored and 9 goals allowed.

KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

The Round of 16 games (a single game played at the home stadium of the higher seeded team) will take place on Sept. 25-26. In the case of a tie after 90 minutes, the game goes directly to a penalty shootout.

The quarterfinals will be played on Oct. 2-3; the semifinals will be played on Oct. 23-24 and the final is scheduled for Oct. 31.

The Copa MX, as such, has been held since the Apertura 2012 season, replacing the Copa México which was staged from 1942 through 1997. Since the renewal of Cup play in Mexico (12 tournaments), Guadalajara is the only repeat winner and all 12 teams that hoisted the trophy were from Liga MX.

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