The 2019 Leagues Cup final will be an all-Liga-MX affair after Cruz Azul beat the LA Galaxy 2-1 in the second semifinal. Cruz Azul will face Tigres UANL in the final.
The game started off well for the visitors, and it didn’t take long for La Máquina to take the lead. In the 4th minute, José Madueña sent a shot from just outside the box in off the post to make it 0-1 for Cruz Azul early on.
Tigres UANL scored a last-second equalizer to tie América 2-2 and send this semifinal to a penalty shootout; the universitarios then bested the Águilas 5-3 from the spot to earn their place in the final of the inaugural Leagues Cup.
Tigres started the game on the front foot, and their attacking pressure soon paid off. In the 14th minute, Jürgen Damm got past Jesús López on the wing and sent a low cross into the box. The unfortunate Paul Aguilar sent the ball into the back of his own net when he tried to cut out the cross, making it 0-1 for Tigres with his own-goal.
América remained perfect at home with a 1-0 victory against Monarcas Morelia. The result keeps the Águilas unbeaten in the Apertura and extends their winning streak to three games, while the michoacanos have now lost two in a row.
Morelia started the game off well, with an early chance through Fernando Aristeguieta, but he put his shot wide. América had more of the possession after that, although they struggled to do much with it; goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between for most of the first 45.
Monterrey remained perfect at home with a 2-0 victory against Toluca. The result gives the Rayados three straight wins, while the Diablos Rojos have now lost three in a row and remain winless in the Apertura.
Monterrey started the game off strongly, and dominated play against a Toluca side that still hasn’t managed to get into gear. The Rayados created chance after chance, and were stopped by the woodwork before finding the breakthrough in the 21st minute.
Chivas de Guadalajara’s comeback attempt fell just short as León held on for a 4-3 victory. The result keeps La Fiera unbeaten at home this season, while ending a three-game unbeaten run for El Rebaño.
León started the game off strongly and they kept the ball in the visitors’ defensive third. Then, in the 16th minute, Josécarlos van Rankin brought down Jean Meneses in the box and León had the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot. José Juan Macías took and converted the PK to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.
Tigres UANL took a late lead but couldn’t hold it as 10-man Atlético San Luis came back for a 1-1 draw. The result keeps the Potosinos winless in two, while the universitarios remain unbeaten in three.
The first chance of the game fell for San Luis, with Matías Catalán getting free on the right and sending a shot just wide of Nahuel Guzmán’s goal. But after that opportunity, possession and chances began to tilt in Tigres’ favor.
Cruz Azul earned their first road win of the season as they beat Atlas 1-3. The result gives La Máquina back-to-back victories while the Rojinegros have now lost two of their last three.
The visitors looked the better side from the start, while Atlas struggled to keep possession or string passes together. Their best chance of the half came in the 10th minute with a shot by Lorenzo Reyes; other than that, it was all Cruz Azul.
Pachuca snapped a two-game losing streak with an emphatic 0-4 away win against Puebla. The result gives the Tuzos their first victory of the Apertura 2019, while the Poblanos are still looking for their first win.
Pachuca didn’t take long to find the breakthrough, taking the lead in just the 6th minute. Jonathan Copete sent a perfect pass to Víctor Guzmán, who slipped in behind the defense and slotted his shot into the lower corner to make it 0-1.
The Campeones Cup pits the winner of the previous MLS Cup against the winner of Liga MX’s Campeón de Campeones. In the inaugural 2018 edition, Tigres UANL beat Toronto FC.
This year, it was MLS’s turn, as Atlanta United came from behind to beat Club América 3-2.
The game started off well for the hosts, with Atlanta taking the lead in just the 5th minute. Dion Pereira played in Emerson Hyndman, whose low shot to the far post made it 1-0 for the MLs side.
Despite going down to 10 men, Santos picked up an emphatic 4-1 victory against Puebla. The result makes it four straight wins for the Laguneros, while the Poblanos are still searching for their first victory.
Santos came out attacking and they had an early opportunity through Adrián Lozano, whose shot hit the crossbar. It was only a matter of time before the hosts found the breakthrough, and it came in the 15th minute. From a corner kick, Ulíses Rivera headed the ball home at the far post to put Santos ahead, 1-0.
