Fans were allowed into Estadio Azteca for the first time since March 15, 2020, and Cruz Azul delighted them with a 3-1 victory. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Two wildcard teams remain in the hunt even as home teams have yet to lose through the first two rounds of the Liga MX playoffs.
No. 8 Pachuca knocked out No. 2 América despite a 4-2 loss at Estadio Azteca thanks to the away-goal rule. The Aguilas scored only once in a poor first-leg performance in which a late Tuzos goal (Luis Chávez netted in minute 90+4 to make it 3-1) proved to be the difference.
Another extra-time goal, in Monterrey, boosted a second wildcard team – No. 5 Santos – past the favored Rayados and into the Liga MX semifinals.
No. 1 Cruz Azul and No. 3 Puebla survived tough challenges at home after losing on the road in their first-leg matches, playoff results which left home teams with a 10-2-0 record – and a 29-11 goal differential – after two rounds.
Cementeros overcome scrappy ‘Choriceros’
Top-seeded Cruz Azul battled past a feisty Toluca side to reach the semifinals for the second season in a row. The 4-3 aggregate win was a worthy sequel to the Cementeros’ dramatic 3-2 triumph over the Diablos on Matchday 7.
In that Feb. 20 game, Cruz Azul leaped out to an early lead before Toluca was awarded a questionable penalty that knotted the score 2-2 just before halftime. Earlier, Cruz Azul was denied a goal when ref Oscar Macías veered in front of a “Cabecita” shot during a Cruz Azul fast break, deflecting it out of bounds.
The first 45 minutes of that regular-season game mirrored the first leg of the quarterfinals in Toluca in which ref Marco Ortiz was the protagonist, awarding a very questionable penalty then declining to check the video replay. The offense was such that during the coin flip ahead of the return match Cruz Azul captain Jesús Corona called on the ref not to be Toluca’s 12th man. Toluca captain Rubens Sambueza covered his mouth in amazement as ref Fernando Hernández reacted indignantly.
As it happened, turnabout was fair play as “La Máquina” was the beneficiary of a penalty call (a legitimate one) and Jonathan Rodríguez thumped home from the spot in minute 80 to put Cruz Azul in the driver’s seat. Rodríguez assisted on his team’s two other goals, including the helper he supplied to Santi Giménez to finish off the series-clinching fast break.
Inspired by Corona’s boldness, Juan Reynoso and his Blue Machine overcame a 2-1 first-leg deficit with Saturday’s 3-1 symphony at the “Coloso de Santa Ursula,” the first Liga MX match at Estadio Azteca with fans in attendance since March 15, 2020, when Cruz Azul outlasted América 1-0. That game came on Matchday 10 of the Clausura 2020, a season that was canceled just days later as the pandemic descended upon Mexico.
Back in that February match, “Pol” Fernández volleyed home a spectacular winner in the second half to punctuate a lengthy Cruz Azul possession and the Cementeros defense held up to secure a 3-2 win that allowed the “Blue Man Group” to leapfrog Toluca into first place. Cruz Azul held onto the top spot the remainder of the season while the Diablos went 2-3-5 from there on out, falling from 1st to 11th.
Out of character
Overturning a first-leg deficit in the quarterfinals has not been a habit for the Cementeros. The series against Toluca marked the eighth time Cruz Azul had lost in the opener of a quarterfinals (twice before to Toluca) and only three times had “La Máquina Celeste” managed to rebound and advance, and never against the Diablos Rojos.
Playoff parallels?
This marks the second season in a row that the reigning Liga MX champs were eliminated in a wildcard penalty shootout. Last season, No. 12 seed Puebla stunned No. 5 Monterrey on penalties after finding a late equalizer to force the shootout. This season, Toluca toppled holders León from the spot after a 2-2 draw.
My question is: did Toluca just lose to the eventual champ as Puebla did last season? The Camoteros followed up their wildcard victory over the Rayados by slapping the visiting Esmeraldas with a 2-1 loss, just as the Diablos did last Wednesday against Cruz Azul.
León manhandled Puebla in the return match last season 2-0 to move on, eventually claiming the Liga MX title over UNAM.
ref Oscar Macías veered in front of a “Cabecita” shot</a> during a Cruz Azul fast break, deflecting it out of bounds.</p>
<p>The first 45 minutes of that regular-season game mirrored the first leg of the quarterfinals in Toluca in which ref Marco Ortiz was the protagonist, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://www.excelsior.com.mx/adrenalina/el-segundo-penal-contra-cruz-azul-fue-inventado/1448594">awarding a very questionable penalty then declining to check the video replay</a>. The offense was such that during the coin flip ahead of the return match <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/liga-mx/arbitro-cruz-azul-toluca-aplaco-jesus-corona-me-estas-amenazando">Cruz Azul captain Jesús Corona called on the ref not to be Toluca’s 12th man</a>. Toluca captain <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhXrJ_lT6Rg%22>Rubens Sambueza covered his mouth in amazement</a> as ref Fernando Hernández reacted indignantly.</p>
<p>As it happened, turnabout was fair play as “La Máquina” was the beneficiary of a penalty call (a legitimate one) and Jonathan Rodríguez thumped home from the spot in minute 80 to put Cruz Azul in the driver’s seat. Rodríguez assisted on his team’s two other goals, including the helper he supplied to Santi Giménez to finish off the series-clinching fast break.</p>
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<p>Inspired by Corona’s boldness, Juan Reynoso and his Blue Machine overcame a 2-1 first-leg deficit with <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxZRVv-e4q8%22>Saturday%e2%80%99s 3-1 symphony</a> at the “Coloso de Santa Ursula,” the first Liga MX match at Estadio Azteca with fans in attendance since March 15, 2020, when Cruz Azul outlasted América 1-0. That game came on Matchday 10 of the Clausura 2020, a season that was canceled just days later as the pandemic descended upon Mexico.</p>
<p>Back in that February match, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOIaP067xT8%22>%e2%80%9cPol%e2%80%9d Fernández volleyed home a spectacular winner</a> in the second half to punctuate a lengthy Cruz Azul possession and the Cementeros defense held up to secure a 3-2 win that allowed the “Blue Man Group” to leapfrog Toluca into first place. Cruz Azul held onto the top spot the remainder of the season while the Diablos went 2-3-5 from there on out, falling from 1st to 11th.</p>
<h2>Out of character</h2>
<p>Overturning a first-leg deficit in the quarterfinals has not been a habit for the Cementeros. The series against Toluca marked the eighth time Cruz Azul had lost in the opener of a quarterfinals (twice before to Toluca) and only three times had <em>“La Máquina Celeste”</em> managed to rebound and advance, and never against the Diablos Rojos.</p>
<h2>Playoff parallels?</h2>
<p>This marks the second season in a row that the reigning Liga MX champs were eliminated in a wildcard penalty shootout. Last season, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/11/23/puebla-stunner-sets-up-liga-mx-super-clasico/">No. 12 seed Puebla stunned No. 5 Monterrey</a> on penalties after finding a late equalizer to force the shootout. This season, Toluca toppled holders León from the spot after a 2-2 draw.</p>
<p>My question is: did Toluca just lose to the eventual champ as Puebla did last season? The Camoteros followed up their wildcard victory over the Rayados by slapping the visiting Esmeraldas with a 2-1 loss, just as the Diablos did last Wednesday against Cruz Azul.</p>
<p>León manhandled Puebla in the return match last season 2-0 to move on, eventually claiming the Liga MX title over UNAM.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Camoteros turn tables on Atlas </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-486802" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1232939032-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX quarters, final" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Santos players mob Ronaldo Prieto after he scored in minute 90+1, lifting the Guerreros into the semifinals. (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>‘La Franja’ moves on despite scoring drought</h3>
<p>Puebla entered Saturday’s second-leg match against Atlas on a decent 3-3-2 run that allowed <em>“La Franja”</em> to secure a first-round bye. Unfortunately, that eight-game stretch was bookended by losses at the hands of the Zorros.</p>
<p><em>“Los Rojinegros”</em> had defeated the host Camoteros 1-0 back on Matchday 11, and then handed the No. 3 seed a 1-0 loss at Estadio Jalisco in the first leg on Wednesday.</p>
<p>So, if not for an Atlas own-goal, Puebla would be packing for summer vacation right now. As such, no Puebla player scored against Atlas in three games this season!</p>
<p>And since <em>“La Franja”</em> finished the season with two scoreless draws, that means no Puebla player has scored since April 17 in the Camoteros’ 4-1 Matchday 15 victory over Atlético de San Luis. It’s not a good idea to carry a scoring drought deep into the <em>Liguilla</em> …</p>
<h2>Guerreros win at the buzzer</h2>
<p>No. 5 seed Santos Laguna found an equalizer at the death in Monterrey on Sunday, and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/05/18/odds-ends-liga-mx-quarterfinals/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-hTIx_6YqA%22>the 1-1 second-leg result</a> gave the Guerreros a 3-2 aggregate victory.</p>
<p>In Sunday’s fast-paced, high-energy game, Santos managed just one shot on goal and that came in minute 90+1 – after a ball headed out of bounds ricocheted off Jesús Gallardo right to Roni Prieto who was all alone in front of net. But that single solitary shot ended up in the back of the net, negating Maxi Meza’s opener back in minute 30 that had the Rayados on the verge of the Liga MX Final Four.</p>
<p>As a result, Guillermo Almada will take his “90-minutes-of-hell” tactics into the semifinals. The demanding coach harangues his team into applying constant pressure all over the pitch – reminiscent of Nolan Richardson’s great Arkansas Razorbacks hoops teams, and their infamous “40 minutes of hell.”</p>
<p>The Guerreros incredible intensity inevitably wears down the opponent, and that’s exactly what happened in both legs of the Santos-Monterrey quarterfinal series. <em>“Los Albiverdes”</em> grabbed momentum and held it throughout the second half of their first-leg 2-1 victory and attacked in waves during the final 15 minutes of Sunday’s second leg.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">América players react after suffering elimination despite defeating Pachuca 4-2 on Sunday. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Tuzos lose, but win</h3>
<p>Pachuca saw its five-game win streak snapped at Estadio Azteca, but América’s 4-2 home win was not enough to prevent the eighth-seeded Tuzos advancing (on the away-goals rule).</p>
<p>Paulo Pezzolano’s side seemed nervous and hesitant much of the match after an early Romario Ibarra goal (minute 5) put the Tuzos up 4-1 on aggregate. Roger Martínez took advantage of the timidity to put on a show.</p>
<p>The Colombian forward had two goals and an assist by minute 53 and Martínez completed his brace with a golazo, cutting across the top of the box from left to right and blasting a shot over Oscar Ustari that clanked off the inside of the far post before nestling in the netting.</p>
<p>The resulting 3-1 Aguilas advantage would have taken the No. 2 seeded team into the semifinals.</p>
<p>Then Bruno Valdez inexplicably stuck out his arm while trying to block Felipe Pardo’s back-side shot and ref Fernando Guerrero didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Gustavo Cabral’s penalty kick meant América had to score twice more to overcome the Tuzos’ second away goal.</p>
<p>Leo Suárez got one back in minute 73 with a spectacular sharply angled free kick that slammed into the side netting just inside the far post – upper 90! Ustari made a nice diving save off a Martínez header in minute 86, denying what turned out to be the Aguilas last gasp.</p>
<h2>Solari’s Liga MX debut season one for the books</h2>
<p>Rookie coach Santiago Solari saw his first season in charge at La Coapa end prematurely, tarnishing a strong regular season. With the No. 2 seed in hand, fans and front office expected nothing more than a Finals appearance.</p>
<p>After taking the reins about a week before the season-opener, the former Real Madrid star was always going to be compared to his predecessor, Miguel Herrera, who was unceremoniously fired after getting into a scrap during halftime of the club’s Concacaf Champions League game against LAFC. The Aguilas were winning 1-0 at the break and had a man advantage, but conceded three times in the second half to lose in shocking fashion.</p>
<p>With Solari in charge, the club’s 38 points in the Guardianes 2021 placed América second in the Liga MX table. That total topped Miguel Herrera’s high mark for points (37), and “El Indiecito” also matched a franchise mark for consecutive home wins by guiding the Aguilas to victories in his first seven games at Estadio Azteca.</p>
<p>Solari also won plaudits for the way he handled the roster (comprised of the second-highest payroll in Liga MX), especially his cautious management of injuries. The club had no long-term injury setbacks as was all too common under the previous regime and players were not rushed back from the infirmary into game action.</p>
<p>The coach also enhanced team solidarity by requiring players to have breakfast and lunch at the club’s training ground. Though this is a “sacrifice” for those who prefer spending time with their family, it is a common practice at clubs in Europe.</p>
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<p>Best of all, several players responded well to Solari’s approach – Roger Martínez, especially, and Leo Suárez – while 20-year-old rookie Santiago Naveda emerged as a top-flight midfielder, setting a club record for most consecutive appearances starting with a debut (17). In fact, Eintracht Frankfurt has been tracking Naveda’s development since mid-season.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">