Monarcas Morelia strike first with 2-0 win over Club América

Goals from Fernando Aristeguieta and Aldo Rocha earned Monarcas Morelia a 2-0 win over Club América in the first leg of their 2019 Liga MX Apertura Semifinals.

In the first few minutes, it was the hosts Monarcas Morelia who came closest to scoring by forcing Guillermo Ochoa to a series of saves. But Monarcas would soon brake the deadlock after just 16 minutes when a picture-perfect pass from Rodrigo Millar found Luis Angel “Quick” Mendoza, who picked out Fernando Aristeguieta inside the box to score the 1-0. At first, the goal was called back for an apparent offside, but after a review on VAR, the call was rightfully reversed.

The night got worse for Las Águilas after fullback Jorge Sanchez was sent off with a second yellow, leaving América to play with ten men for the rest of the game.

That, however, didn’t stop Miguel Herrera’s men from coming close to equalizing at the stroke of halftime when Sebastian Viñas took for granted a short-distance header with the just the goalkeeper to beat.

In the 51st minute, Monarcas Morelia struck again. From a deadly breakaway, Aldo Rocha followed the play all the way to the inside of the box where he would slide the ball into the back of the net for the 2-0.

América would receive a glimmer of hope 12 minutes from the end when Monarcas Morelia would pick up their own red card through Sebastian Vega. At the end, though, las Águilas were unable to muster the appropriate response and will now go into the second leg at the Estadio Azteca down 2-0.

With the result, América will need to score at least twice in the second leg to have any chance of advancing to the Liga MX final.