Necaxa and Monterrey battle to 1-1 draw

In the last match on Liga MX action on Saturday night, Monterrey traveled Aguascalientes to take on Necaxa. There, at the Estadio Victoria, the two sides split the points as the match ended 1-1.

Rogelio Funes Mori opened the scoring for Monterrey in the first half while Claudio Riaño canceled out the goal in the latter 45.

The hosts best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute. Necaxa built up play out of the back nicely before sending it wide to the right. Jesús Isijara drilled a low cross towards the middle of the box aimed at Claudio Riaño. Monterrey’s César Montes stuck out a right boot to stop Riaño’s attempt on target at the crucial moment.

Seven minutes later, however, Monterrey found the breakthrough. A pass deflected off of Felipe Gallegos and fell straight to the feet of Rogelio Funes Mori, who made no mistake with his lobbed effort over Marcelo Barovero.

Necaxa wasted no time getting back into the contest, leveling things at one in the 52nd minute. Severa Meza delivered a ball along the ground towards the ever present Riaño. The 28-year-old striker hit the cross first time with his right foot and found the bottom left corner of the net.

A second goal was almost scored in the 55th minute, as Hugo González stopped a pinpoint header. Edson Puch saved the ball from going out of play off a free kick with a headed pass back through the box. It hit off of Meza’s right leg and was promptly saved by the Monterrey goalkeeper.

Then, 20 minutes later, Barovero produced his own great reaction save to preserve the tie. Dorlan Pabón sent a ball towards the penalty spot where Jesús Molina hit the pass on the volley. The Necaxa goalkeeper stretched his right arm upwards to prevent the go-ahead goal.