The Liga MX 2019 Clausura season kicked off Friday, 19 days after Club América claimed its historic 13th league title in the Apertura competition. The opening night of play featured Cruz Azul — the beaten Apertura finalists — settling for a draw against Puebla, but how about this strike from La Maquina talisman Elias Hernandez.
It’s no secret that 18-year-old Mexican phenom Diego Lainez has played his last match for Club América (going out with a bang as the Apertura 2018 champion). With two El Tri appearances to his name, Lainez only further boosted his market value with two goals during América’s semifinal victory over Pumas, and it looks as though Dutch giants Ajax are about to meet the Mexican club’s valuation of the precocious winger.
It is settled: Club América is the best team in all Liga MX history. Beating Cruz Azul in a very level final on Sunday, Las Águilas claimed their 13th Liga MX title.
In doing so, Miguel Herrera's side surpassed Chivas Guadalajara, which has won the championship 12 times.
The Cruz Azul curse continues. After being repelled by a combination of Club América goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín and the crossbar in the first leg, a poor piece of attempting to play out the back ultimately doomed Cruz Azul in the second — the ever impressive Edson Álvarez punished the slack play with a curling effort from the top of the box, and then the El Tri star registered a second at the death to confirm América’s 13th title.
Cruz Azul failed to land a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Nursing a 1-0 lead in the Liga MX final, Club América goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín knew what he had to do. After a sensational run by 20-year-old Cruz Azul midfielder Roberto Alvarado, the ball ended at the feet of Édgar Méndez.
Marchesín rushed out and took the ball off the feet of Méndez before he could get a shot off and potentially equalize in the 59th minute, and then the 30-year-old Argentine goalkeeper let Méndez have an earful. Referee Cesar Ramos rushed forward to separate the two, but in doing so, he gently touched the arm of Marchesín.
The 2018 Liga MX Femenil Apertura Final commenced Tuesday with the first leg between Club América and Tigres at the Estadio Azteca. Given the poor state of the Azteca pitch and since the men’s Liga MX final pits América versus Cruz Azul (both tenants of the Azteca) on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16, the Femenil final was given the shaft — the game was played on a Tuesday with a 4 p.m. kickoff.
According to leaks from Todo Sobre Camisetas and Footy Headlines, Mexico will look to reclaim the Gold Cup in 2019 wearing black jerseys. Back in 2015, El Tri debuted black home kits to be worn at the Copa America — the first time in nearly 50 years that Mexico had abandoned its traditional green for something more radical.
It's going to happen: A Club América vs. Cruz Azul Liga MX final will kiss 2018 goodbye. La Máquina beat Monterrey, and Las Águilas destroyed Pumas in the semifinals last weekend, thus securing the high-voltage final most soccer enthusiasts in Mexico were looking forward to.
Diego Maradona’s attempt to lift the 2018 Ascenso MX Apertura title with Dorados fell agonizingly short on Sunday night after Atlético San Luis triumphed 4-3 on aggregate after extra time.
Dorados won the first leg 1-0 back on Nov. 29, but Maradona was ultimately sent off during the game for threatening San Luis manager Alfonso Sosa with a clenched fist.
Diego Maradona walks off in style after being sent off in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/1RvvxnwaIP
The Liga MX Apertura playoffs kicked off yesterday with number one seed Cruz Azul avoiding a “Cruzazulear” and defeating Querétaro 2-0 at Estadio Corregidora in the night’s first match, and that was followed by Monterrey’s 1-0 first leg win over Santos Laguna.