Copa MX Match Recap: Monterrey are on to the semifinals with a 1-0 victory over Queretaro

While almost everyone else in the soccer world was getting ready for the international break, with some players going to play for their counties while the players left behind were resting up, CF Monterrey and Querétaro instead got down to the business of a Copa MX quarterfinal at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer.

Monterrey went in to this Copa MX match with a fairly strong lineup, with Rogelio Funes Mori, who had gotten a red card against Cruz Azul over the weekend and will miss the all-important match against Deportivo Toluca after the break is over, regular first-team starter Dorlan Pabón, and a pair of Mexico internationals in Jonathan Gonzalez and Jesús Gallardo, along with top scorer Nico Sanchez.

Monterrey would get on the board in the 7th minute from a Pabón free kick that was directed into the back of the Querétaro net. Former Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Camilio Sanvezzo ended up being the last person to touch the ball, as the power from the free kick made it difficult to clear and the Brazilian’s attempted clearance ended up as an own goal. No matter how it went in, Monterrey will take it.

Querétaro came close a couple different times in the first half, but they were flagged for offsides, correctly, at least a couple times when they were through on goal. Monterrey had gone close early in the match, with Funes Mori missing a chance early on and Carlos Rodriguez being carded for diving after a fairly weak attempt at winning a penalty within the first minute of the match.

Monterrey went into halftime with a well-deserved 1-0 lead, although to feel truly comfortable, Monterrey fans would have wanted Los Rayados to get at least another goal on the board to prevent another last-minute game-tying goal, which has happened on a number of occasions this season.

Querétaro went close in the 57th minute as Monterrey keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo had to pull out a remarkable save to keep the visitors off the scoresheet from a point-blank chance. It was easily the best chance that Querétaro had to draw level, and los Gallos Blancos would have felt unlucky to not have scored on that play, as it could have turned the match around for them.

Eric Cantu came into the match in the 60th minute, replacing Jesus Molina, and Avilés Hurtado came on in the 68th minute for Daniel Lajud, who just minutes before had almost doubled the lead after his shot came just off the finger tips of Tiago Volpi, the Querétaro keeper.

Pabón departed in the 80th minute, with Leonel Vangioni coming on to replace him as Monterrey looked to shut down the match by bringing on a defender for one of their most explosive forwards.

The last ten minutes finished without much fanfare as Monterrey was able to ride out the clean sheet and progress to the semifinals of the Copa MX. They will play Pachuca at the Estadio Hidalgo on either the 23rd or 24th of October as Monterrey will be looking to win the Apertura 2018 Copa MX to add to the Apertura 2017 Copa MX title they got last year.