Monarcas Morelia fight back to shock León, advance to Liga MX Semifinals

Monarcas Morelia recovered from going a goal down to beat Club León 2-1 at the Nou Camp and advance to the Semifinals of the 2019 Liga MX Apertura.

The First Leg had ended with 3-3 draw, which meant a win by any scoreline would put the Michoacanos through to the next round. But it was La Fiera who went on the front foot early when Jose Juan Macias, who was doubtful through injury head of this match, almost put the hosts ahead with an angled shot that went just wide of Morelia’s goal.

Monarcas were hanging on and almost capitalized off a a set-piece when a Mario Osuna header forced Rodolfo Cota to a brilliant save.

As the match opened up, both goalkeepers then made a succession of key saves, but ultimately, the game ended scoreless heading into the break.

In the 51st minute, Ismael Sosa gave León a dream start to the second half when a cross-shot from the Argentine sneaked past Sebastian Sosa to put things 4-3 in favor of La Fiera.

Needing to score two goals now to go through, Monarcas Morelia gave themselves a chance after second half substitute Miguel Sansores rose above his defender to head in the equalizing goal.

Monarcas Morelia then completed the comeback five minutes later when Edison Flores’s deflected shot went past Rodolfo Cota and into the back of the net.

Soon it was one-way traffic, with Club León desperately needing an equalizing goal. And for a moment, it would look like they would get it. Deep into injury time, a desperate cross into the box finished with Angel Mena sending the León fans into a frenzy. But after consulting with VAR, the match official decided to call the goal back for an apparent push on a Monarcas Morelia defender. Whether the call was justified is up for debate, but it was a heartbreaking way for León to lose a goal.

La Fiera still had one last chance to win the tie, but Macias struck the woodwork, as León’s last chance of reaching the Semifinals went begging.

At the final whistle, seventh seed Monarcas Morelia had achieved an unlikely victory over León and will now wait to see who they will face in the Semifinals.