Matchday 11: Gallos put out welcome mat for Rayos
Queretaro and Necaxa have been pleasant surprises in the Apertura and they square off at Estadio Corregidora on Tuesday night.
Los Gallos Blancos de Queretaro are among the biggest surprises in the Liga MX thus far in the Apertura 2019 season. The quality they have displayed on the field under the direction of “King Midas” Victor Manuel Vucetich, suggest they will enter the Liguilla with a favorable seeding.
Over the weekend, Queretaro held up rather impressively against America at Estado Azteca, earning a 2-2 draw. The Gallos Blancos opened the scoring at the half-hour mark with a brilliant play by winger Fabian Castillo, but America responded moments later to tie the score thanks to a hustle play by striker Henry Martin.
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The game seemed destined to end in a draw until Martin dribbled through the Queretaro defense to score a magnificent goal with only 11 minutes remaining. Before America fans had finished their celebration, Gallos Blancos fullback Alonso Escoboza had moved up with the play, took a pass from George Corral and fired a shot from outside the box. The ball took a slight deflection off an Aguilas defender and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa had no chance.
The draw kept Queretaro undefeated on the road (3-2-0) and left the Gallos in third place with 18 points after 9 games (they have already served their bye).
Necaxa will visit Queretaro coming off a tough 4-2 home loss to Leon. The visitors came out firing on all cylinders and took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, then scored again just before the hour mark.
Necaxa delighted its fans at Estadio Victoria by fighting back with two quick goals from Jesus Angulo and Mauro Quiroga to even the score with 20 minutes remaining. Leon showed their championship mettle, scoring right at the 90-minute mark, then adding another before the final whistle.
The loss drops the Rayos out of first place, leaving them in fourth place with 17 points after 10 games.
Necaxa will hope that Angulo and his midfield mates continue their good run of form, while Quiroga and Maxi Salas are charged with keeping the defenders occupied. Salas has 6 goals, Quiroga has 5 goals and 3 assists, while Angulo has scored 4 times.
Prediction
Queretaro is only 2-1-1 at home but they have Vucetich on the bench pulling the strings. The Gallos are stingy on defense, but only Leon has scored more goals than Necaxa. However, the Rayos are vulnerable at the back and Queretaro has quality in attack and they should be able to take advantage of the opportunities created.