Author Archives: Alex

About Alex

Author of Soccer, Translated, which covers Mexican fútbol in American English. www.soccertranslated.com

América vs Monarcas Morelia – Semifinal Second Leg Recap & Highlights

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América earned a 2-0 victory against Monarcas Morelia in the second leg of their semifinal series to level the aggregate at 2-2. With away goals not coming into play, the Águilas earned a place in the Gran Final thanks to the higher-seed tiebreaker.

América came into this one needing to score at least two goals, and they went on the attack from the beginning. The breakthrough came in the 37th minute, when Renato Ibarra’s shot from outside the box took a deflection off the defense and beat Sebastián Sosa to make it 1-0 (1-2 aggregate).

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Apertura 2019 Final Set

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Liga MX logoThe Apertura 2019 Gran Final is set, and it’ll be 6th-seeded América taking on 8th-seeded Monterrey.

América reached the final after comebacks against Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals and Monarcas Morelia in the semis, while Monterrey got there by upsetting superlíder Santos in the quarterfinals before beating Necaxa in the semis.

Due to Monterrey’s participation in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, where they’ll be representing the confederation after winning the CONCACAF Champions League, the Liga MX playoff schedule had to be adjusted.

The Rayados will host the first leg on December 26th, while América will host the return leg on December 29th.

Necaxa vs Monterrey – Semifinal Second Leg Recap & Highlights

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Monterrey scored late in stoppage time to beat Necaxa 1-0 on the right and assure their spot in the Gran Final with a 3-1 aggregate victory. The Rayados’ win means there will be an adjustment to the playoff schedule, since they’ll be playing in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup next week; as a result, the Liga MX final will be delayed by two weeks and played on December 26th and 29th.

The pressure was on Necaxa in this one; they needed to score to advance, while Monterrey would go through with a 0-0 draw. Nevertheless, it was the visitors who looked more dangerous in the attack. In the 14th minute, Jesús Gallardo was denied by the offside flag as Monterrey looked to seal the series.

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Monarcas Morelia vs América – Semifinal First Leg Recap & Highlights

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While both teams finished the first leg of this semifinal series with 10 men, Morelia had a numerical advantage for most of the second half and they made it count as they grabbed a 2-0 victory against América.

Morelia came out attacking as they looked to make their home-field advantage count, and they had some early chances, most notably when Edison Flores tested Memo Ochoa in the 8th minute. Then, in the 16th, Rodrigo Millar played Luis Mendoza in behind the defense; he drove towards goal and then slid the ball across the top of the six-yard box for Fernando Aristeguieta, who stabbed it home.

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Liga MX Disaffiliates Veracruz

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Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz crest/logoAmong numerous controversies including player complaints of unpaid salaries totaling nearly 40 million pesos (about $207,000 U.S.), the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and Liga MX have taken the step of disaffiliating Veracruz.

The Tiburones Rojos are no longer part of the league, effective immediately; all players, from the first team, the women’s team, and the youth teams, are all free agents and can sign with any other team.

With Veracruz no longer in Liga MX, the Clausura 2020 will be played with 18 teams and there will be no relegation at the end of the season – although promotion from Ascenso MX will still be in effect, as Liga MX continues to work towards a stable 20-team first division.

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Monterrey vs Necaxa – Semifinal First Leg Recap & Highlights

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Monterrey took, lost, and regained the lead as they beat Necaxa 2-1 in the first leg of their Apertura 2019 semifinal series.

Necaxa had the best road record in the league in the regular season – with six wins from nine games – and they came out attacking as they looked to keep their good road form going in this one. But after a promising five minutes from the Rayos, Monterrey took control of the game and they took the lead in the 10th minute.

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Apertura 2019 Semifinal First Legs – Where to Watch

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Liga MX logoThe Apertura 2019 semifinals are set, and for just the second time in Liga MX history, all four lower seeds advanced out of the quarterfinals.

The semifinals are two-legged, aggregate-goal series; away goals are tiebreakers. If both the aggregate and the away goals are tied at the end of the second leg, the higher seed will advance.

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Disciplinary Report: Apertura 2019 Quarterfinal Second Legs

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Banner image of a red card and yellow card with the caption DISCIPLINARY REPORTThe Disciplinary Committee has suspended one player following the second legs of the Apertura 2019 quarterfinals.

The lone sanction was given to Luis Romo of Querétaro, who was suspended one game for serious foul play. Since the Gallos Blancos were eliminated from the playoffs, Romo will serve his suspension during the first game of the Clausura 2020 season.

Tigres UANL vs América – Quarterfinal Second Leg Recap & Highlights

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América was the only quarterfinalist to overturn a first-leg deficit and advance as they beat Tigres UANL 2-4 on the night and 4-5 on aggregate to move on to the semifinals.

Tigres seemed to have the upper hand going into this one: a 2-1 aggregate lead, two away goals, and their positioning as the higher seed if it came down to that tiebreaker. But América came out attacking and before long they had the series turned on its head.

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Apertura 2019 Semifinals Set

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Liga MX logoAfter some high-scoring quarterfinal series, the semifinalists are set – and for just the second time in Liga MX playoff history, all four of the lower seeds advanced.

Quarterfinal aggregate results
Monterrey 6-3 Santos Laguna
Monarcas Morelia 5-4 León
Necaxa 6-2 Querétaro
América 5-4 Tigres UANL

The semifinals are two-legged, aggregate-goal series; away goals are tiebreakers. If both the aggregate and the away goals are tied at the end of the second leg, the higher seed will advance.

The semifinal pairings are as follows:

Necaxa (5) vs Monterrey (8)
América (6) vs Monarcas Morelia (7)

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