Liga MX Review: Toluca Run Riot Against Puebla

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

Chivas 3-2 Necaxa
Santos Laguna 1-1 Pachuca
Mazatlán 2-0 Tigres
Toluca 5-0 Puebla

Chivas builds on the weekend win to Pachuca win three points at the Estadio Akron against Necaxa. Los Rojiblancos found themselves behind after five minutes as Tomas Badaloni gave the visitors the lead with his second goal of the season but the home side responded with three goals in ten minutes after the restart as Cade Cowell levelled the scoring with his league first since July before Ricardo Martín and Victor Guzman took the game away from Necaxa, who managed a consolation goal through Ricardo Monreal.

Santos Laguna and Pachuca played out a draw as Oussama Idrissi opened the scoring for the visitors in the second half but were later cancelled out as Anthony Lozano brought Santos back on level terms.

The big shock of the matchday saw Tigres drop more points after a derby day defeat to Monterrey at the weekend. Winning their second game of the season, Mazatlán stole the points at the death as Brian Rubio opened the scoring in the 89th minute before Josue Colman doubled the lead three minutes later. Los Tigres face Pachuca at the weekend where they will need points to continue their playoff hopes.

Toluca were the big winners of the week with a demolition of Puebla. Federico Pereira gave the hosts an early lead before Paulinho failed to convert from the penalty spot. Two-nil up at the break, Alexis Vega added to the scoring soon after the break before the former Sporting Lisbon striker added a brace to forget about his earlier penalty miss. The result moves Los Rojos Diablos three points clear in 2nd place of Monterrey.

Wednesday 23rd October 2024

Cruz Azul 4-0 Juárez
Monterrey 0-0 Pumas
León 0-0 Atlas
Tijuana 2-2 Club América

Cruz Azul witnessed Toluca's destructive victory the day before and needed to put on a show, which is exactly what the did to Juárez. Lorenzo Faravelli netted his fifth goal of the season after eight minutes as Angel Sepúlveda came off of the bench to double and soon after triple the lead for La Maquiná. To put the cherry on top of the cake, Gabriel Fernández also came off of the bench to add a fourth goal to the account, netting in his first appearance for the club this season.

Monterrey and Pumas were unable to get the better of each other in a goalless draw at the Estadio BBVA. The result moves Pumas ahead of the University rivals Tigres, whilst Los Rayados remain a point above their midweek challengers.

There was a second bore draw of the week in Guanajuato as León was unable to build on the weekend win against Juárez. The point apiece leaves León five points adrift of the playoffs as Atlas remain in 9th, a point above América.

The final game of the week was in Tijuana as Los Xolos held the reigning champions to a point. Alex Zendejas gave the visitors the lead before Christian Rivera scored his second goal in as many games with a penalty before half time. In the second half, Tijuana took the lead for the first time through Domingo Blanco with a curling finish from the left-hand side but was unable to hold on as Rodrigo Aguirre levelled the game for América with 20 minutes left, scoring his fourth goal in eight games since moving to the capital from Los Rayados.

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