Liga MX Review: Pumas get the better of Club América
By Sam Plummer
Friday 27th September
Puebla 2 vs 3 Juárez
Querétaro 0 vs 0 Necaxa
Tigres 2 vs 2 León
Tijuana 1 vs 0 Mazatlán
Puebla suffered a third straight loss after another five-goal thriller following a narrow defeat to Pachuca last week. This time around, Jairo Torres opened the scoring for the visitors before Luis Quiñones brought Puebla back on level terms. Two goals from José Garcia and Óscar Estupiñán sealed a rare win for Juárez, collecting just a second from 10 games before Quinones grabbed a consolation goal for Puebla.
Querétaro secured shock wins over Tigres and Atlas after failing to win any of their opening eight league games, but they were unable to extend that winning run after a goalless draw with Necaxa. The result moves the visitors back into the playoff spots, with results going their way, as Querétaro sit one point off of the bottom two.
Tigres came into their meeting with León holding the best defensive record in the league but conceded half the amount they had leaked all season in a 2-2 draw at the Estadio Universitario this weekend. José Alvarado gave the visitors a surprise lead before Andre Pierre-Gignac levelled the scoring. In the second half, Jaime Barreriro gave León the advantage for the second time in the game but Tigres would respond through Juan Brunetta in added time to ensure that they would remain in 3rd place.
Tijuana has had a recent dip in form but they returned to winning ways after a tight encounter with Mazatlán. The game's only goal came early on as Kevin Castaneda gave Los Xolos a lead within the first 5 minutes. As Mazatlán fought back into the game, they were unable to break past José Rodriguez in the Tijuana goal as they held on for all three points.
Saturday 28th September
Toluca 4 vs 1 Atlas
Pachuca 2 vs 4 Cruz Azul
Chivas 1 vs 1 Monterrey
San Luís 3 vs 1 Santos Laguna
Toluca lost for the first time this season in their most recent outing against León but would face an Atlas side that lost three of its 4 matches prior to their visit to the Estadio Nemesio Díez. As such, the game went as many expected, Los Diablos Rojos raced into a 4-0 lead with goals from Paulinho, Helio Junio and a brace from Isaias Violante. Whilst Atlas pulled one back through Aldo Rocha in the second half, it was far from enough as Toluca secured a statement win to bounce back from last weeks defeat.
Cruz Azul extended their lead at the top to four points by scoring four times against Pachuca. The home side went up 2-0 but a brace either side of half-time through Giorgios Giakoumakis brought the league leaders back into the game. Helped by a sending-off for Sergio Baretto, the visitors soon took the lead for the first time the game before Angel Sepulveda gave La Maquiná the security they needed with a fourth goal.
Chivas faced Monterrey at the Estadio Akron but neither side were able to take advantage. Ricardo Marin gave Chivas the lead but it was matched by an 88th minute equaliser from Jesús Corona as Los Rayados maintained their chase at the top of the table.
The final game of the night saw San Luís leave with all three points. Previously handing Cruz Azul its first and only loss of the campaign, they came into this encounter with the belief that they could go on and win. Whilst Santos opened the scoring through Anthony Lozano, San Luís responded with two quick-fire goals in the second half before Daniel Guillen gave them the breathing space to go on and win. The result moves San Luís into sixth place, above Chivas.
Sunday 29th September
Club América 0 vs 1 Pumas
The final game was in the capital and was one to forget for América. Piero Quipse scored the game's only goal, finding himself in plenty of space to smash home his effort beyond Luis Malagón. The result moves Pumas into fifth as Las Águilas fall out of the playoff places.
Which team impressed you the most this weekend? Let us know!