Liga MX Review: Cruz Azul Suffer First League Defeat
By Sam Plummer
Liga MX action returned during the week with eight games taking place. Standout games saw Club América welcome high-flying Atlas to the capital whilst Toluca sought to confirm their title hopes with a visit to Pachuca.
Tuesday 17th September
San Luís 3 vs 1 Cruz Azul
Club América 3 vs 0 Atlas
Pachuca 2-2 Toluca
Querétaro 1-0 Tigres
Pumas 1-0 Puebla
The midweek action started with a shock as league leaders lost its first game of the season. San Luís, who previously defeated Club América, overturned a 1-0 deficit with goals from Franch Boli, Javier Guemez and a late own goal from Erik Lira to ruffle some feathers at the top end of the table. The result moves San Luís into 6th place, five points behind La Máquina.
In the capital, América were able to build on a derby day victory against Chivas by comfortably dispatching the challenge of Atlas. Just a fourth win from an opening eight league matches, Las Águilas raced into an early lead through Rodrigo Aguirre before Victor Davila came off the bench to score on his debut, joining the club from Russian side CSKA Moscow. The win was capped off when Brian Rodríguez netted his second goal of the season. Back-to-back wins for Andre Jardine's side means that they are in 10th place, two points behind Atlas.
Pachuca managed to hold Toluca to a point despite another red card, this time for left back Jorge Berlanga. Four dismissals off across the last four games raised concern for their discipline but goals from Sergio Hernández and Owen González saw Los Tuzos take the lead but an Anderson Duarte's equaliser rescued a point for Toluca side eying an 11th Liga MX title.
The biggest result of the matchday came at the Estadio Corregidora as Querétaro managed to secure its first points of the season in a 1-0 victory against Tigres. The visitors came into the game with an unbeaten record, just like Cruz Azul, but were unable to hit the back of the net as Franco Russo scored the only goal of the game. The result means that Los Gallos join Juárez and León on four points as Tigres remain two points adrift of league leaders Cruz Azul.
Heading back to the capital, Pumas welcomed an in-form Puebla to the Estadio Universitario. Whilst the visitors had not lost in three, Pumas were winless in the same time frame. However, the form book was thrown out the window for this fixture as Guillermo Martínez scored the only goal of the game to end the drought for the home side. A 1-0 victory for Pumas means that they climb to 9th, ahead of their opponents who fall to 12th.
Wednesday 18th September 2024
Chivas 2-0 León
Mazatlán 0-0 Necaxa
Monterrey 3-2 Juárez
Chivas returned to winning ways after a derby day loss to Club América. A comfortable win but Los Rojiblancos waited until the 45th minute to break the deadlock as Roberto Alvarado converted from the penalty spot. The game will be remembered for the embrace of Mexican legends Javier Hernández and Andrés Guardado playing on opposing sides but the nail in the coffin came in the 75th minute when Paul Bellon hit into his own net to double the home side's lead.
In Sinaloa, Mazatlán and Necaxa played out a goalless draw. A result that leaves Necaxa a point off the playoff poisitons whilst the home side remain six adrift.
The final game of the matchday gave fans a five-goal thriller. German Berterame opened the scoring as Monterrey took the lead but Juárez hit back with two quick-fire goals through Oscar Estupinan and Diego Valdes giving the visitors a surprise lead. As the game came to a close, Los Rayados showed their grit with two late goals of their own to turn the game on its head again. Sergio Canales converted a penalty before the former Real Madrid man smashed home from close range to seal a last-gasped win. The eventual three points mean that Los Rayados join Cruz Azul at the top of the table with 19 points.
Who impressed you the most during the midweek action? Let us know!