Copa MX: ‘El Maestro’ teaches ‘El Jefe’ a lesson
Chivas lose to second-division club, a setback that could cost coach Tomás “El Jefe” Boy his job.
Although the Liga MX is on hiatus during the FIFA break, there was no rest for six Liga MX teams who had Copa MX obligations.
There were seven Copa MX group stage matches spread across Tuesday and Wednesday nights under the new, year-long format that is aimed at reducing the work load of players in both Liga MX and Ascenso MX.
Guadalajara 0, Correcaminos 1
Guadalajara’s winless streak was extended to four games when former Monarca Rodolfo Vilchis finished off a gorgeous play to give the second-division Correcaminos a big road win in Copa MX Group 7.
Former Uruguay international Egidio Arévalo fed Abraham Vázquez at the top of the box and Vázquez flicked a pass to Vilchis who was breaking in alone to left of goal. Vilchis took one dribble into the box and tucked home a shot past Toño Rodríguez and inside the far post.
The Chivas opened the game with a second-choice line-up and two academy players, while the Correcaminos featured some familiar faces. In addition to Vilchis and Arévalo, former UNAM and León star Matías Britos was on the field for UAT.
Also fascinating was the chance to see “El Maestro” Carlos Reinoso, 74, match wits with “El Jefe” Tomás Boy, 68. These two legends squared off against each other as players in the 80s as well as dozens of times as coaches.
Chivas fans serenaded “El Jefe” with chants of “Boy must go” as the final whistle sounded. It would be no surprise if Guadalajara makes a coaching change in the coming days.
Zacatecas 2, Tijuana 3
For the second time in a week, Erick Torres came off the Tijuana bench to score the game-winner in extra time. The Xolos overturned a first-half deficit against the 10-man Mineros who saw striker Roberto Nurse ejected in minute 42.
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Ariel Nahuelpan tied the score with a header in minute 60, but the Xolos went down to 10 men in minute 86. In minute 90+1, “Cubo” Torres ran down a long cross near the touch line and volleyed home sharply just inside the near post as keeper Antonny Monreal was unable to scramble across from the opposite post. The Xolos now lead Copa MX Group 5 with 6 points from 3 games. Zacatecas is in second place with 3 points from 2 games and Querétaro trails in third with 3 points from 3 games.
Torres scored in minute 90+3 to defeat Cruz Azul in a Liga MX match on Aug. 28.
Necaxa 0, Celaya 0
The Rayos dropped points at home for the second time and now must win on the road if they hope to advance out of Group 6. Necaxa squandered several good scoring chances against second-division Celaya, but Memo Vázquez’s second-choice line-up failed to deliver for the home crowd. The Rayos are in second place with 2 points from 2 games, trailing the Dorados of Sinaloa (4 points, 2 games) and ahead of Celaya (1 point, 2 games).
Mérida 1, FC Juárez 2
The Bravos took control of Group 3 with a tough road win, scoring the winner in extra time after Venados striker Darío Carreño was shown a red card in minute 75. Mérida had taken an early lead on an Alfonso Tamay goal in minute 12, and Gabriel Hachen equalized for the visiting Bravos in minute 61. Striker Leandro Carrijo nailed the winner in minute 90+4.
Juárez now has 7 points from 3 games, while the Venados are in second with 4 points from 3 games. Atlante is in last place with 0 points from 2 games.
TUESDAY NIGHT COPA MX ACTION
Potros UAEM 0, Atlético San Luis 2
Alfonso Sosa’s reward for winning a Copa MX match on the road was a pink slip. In a stunning move, San Luis management sacked their manager even though Sosa has guided the team to the top of Group 8 (7 points from 3 matches) and has the Tuneros in a respectable 10th place in the league table (and #10 in our Power Rankings), despite already having had their bye. Diego Pineda scored two first-half goals to lead Atlético San Luis to victory. The Tuneros play UNAM (4 points from 2 matches) on Oct. 2 with a chance to clinch a spot in the knockout round of the Copa.
Morelia 2, Cimarrones 0
The Monarcas have clinched a spot in the knockout stage already with two months still to go in the group stage.
Sebastián Ferreira scored early and Joaquín Martínez scored late as Morelia cruised to their third win in their third Group A match, defeating the Cimarrones of Sonora for a second time. Puebla (0 points) is in second place in the group.
Cafetaleros 1, Leones Negros 0
The Cafetaleros (6 points) handed the Guadalajara-based visitors their third Copa loss in as many games and in so doing moved into first place of Group 2, ahead of Monterrey (3 points). The Rayados pay a visit to Tapachula, Chiapas, on Oct. 11 in the first of two matches between these two teams. The Cafetaleros likely need a tie in one of those matches to advance to the knockout stage.