Liga MX Femenil recap - 2019 Clausura Week 12

Another fun week in Liga MX Femenil, with a couple of teams looking to make a late season push into the Liguilla.

León 3, Querétaro 2: Goals galore in León, as La Fiera downed Querétaro 3-2. León got things started in the 26th minute when Denisse Valdez somehow got the ball over the line off of a corner kick that resembled a rugby scrum at points. The lead would be short-lived however, when Sofia Alvarez tapped home a great cross from Andrea Romero in the 28th minute. Just before the halftime break Querétaro would take the lead when León goalkeeper Montserrat González went down during play. Referee Priscila Pérez allowed play to continue and Luz Ruíz took full advantage, knocking the ball into the empty net in the 43rd minute. In the 63rd minute, an error by Querétaro goalkeeper Ivette Alvarado allowed the ball to squirt free to Denisse Valdez, who was able to center the ball to Dariana Rubio who put the ball home. In the 80th minute, Joselyn De La Rosa would hit a shot from distance that Selene Valera redirected up and over Alvarado. With the win, León leapfrogs Chivas for the fourth and final spot in Group 2 with 17 points. Querétaro is in eighth place with just four points.

Atlas 2, Tigres UANL 1: Atlas throwing themselves into the conversation of “Best team in Liga MX Femenil” with a 2-1 win over Tigres. Fabiola Ibarra got the scoring started in the 40th minute when she converted a penalty. Alison González would double the lead two minutes later when she was able to clean up a rebound off of a free kick. Tigres would get the consolation goal in the 72nd minute when Liliana Rodríguez rifled a shot into the top of the net, but Atlas were able to hang on to the lead and pick up the three points, pushing them into second place in Group 2 with 24 points. Tigres falls to third place with 23 points, three behind leaders Monterrey.

Club América 2, Cruz Azul 1: A solid win for Club América over their crosstown rivals. Betzy Cuevas got things going in the 35th minute when she one-timed a shot from near the penalty spot that beat goalkeeper Mariana Zárraga. In the 65th, Daniela Espinosa would get what would turn out to be the game-winner when Cuevas made a fantastic run down the left and passed the ball over. Espinosa’s touch redirected the ball past the defenders and into the net. In the 67th, Norma Gaitan would beat the offside trap and goalkeeper Aurora Santiago to draw one back for Cruz Azul, but América would hang on for the win. Las Águilas sit just one point behind Group 1 leaders Pachuca with 23 points while Cruz Azul are in last place with nine.

Veracruz 1, UNAM Pumas 0: Veracruz continues to turn in improved performances, defeating Pumas 1-0. A tenacious play by Liliana Hernández saw her fight off a defender, get her rebound when her shot was stopped by goalkeeper Melany Villeda, and bang it in past an onrushing defender. While still in seventh place in Group 1, the three points they picked up see them five behind Puebla for the fourth and final Liguilla spot while Pumas is in third place with 18 points.

Lobos BUAP 1, Puebla 2: Three critical points for Puebla as the race in Group 1 heats up. Center back Maria López converted from the spot in the 53rd minute, and Mariam Castro would head a free kick past a diving Paola Manrique in the 62nd minute for the visitors. Gloria Narváez would get her third goal of the season in the 75th minute when she converted a penalty as well, but the hosts wouldn’t find an equalizer. Lobos’ nine points have them seven points behind Puebla for the final Liguilla spot, while Puebla are eight points behind leaders Pachuca.

Monterrey 5, Monarcas Morelia 0: Monterrey remains unbeaten with a dominant win over Monarcas. Alicia Cervantes would break the ice just three minutes in when she got the ball in the box, turned, and hit a well placed shot into the far corner of the net. Things would be quiet until the 56th minute when Cervantes would clean up a bouncing ball in traffic off of a corner kick for her second of the evening. In the 68th minute it would be Rebeca Bernal connecting on a bouncing ball in traffic off of a corner kick. Nallely Magaña would put one past her own keeper in the 74th minute when her sliding attempt at blocking a pass redirected the ball into the net. María Sandoval would have the same fate as Magaña in stoppage time, committing the autogol in an attempt to block a pass. Monterrey sits atop Group 2 with 26 points (out of a possible 30). Morelia is in seventh place with seven points, ten behind León and Chivas for the final Liguilla spot from the group.

Santos Laguna 3, Guadalajara 1: Don’t look now, but Santos are making a run at the Liguilla. Their win against Chivas sees them just two points behind León for fourth in Group 2. Alexxandra Ramírez would put the hosts up in the ninth minute when goalkeeper Ana Ruvalcaba misplayed a cross. The ball would fall to Ramírez’ feet, where she scooped the ball up and into the net. Isela Ojeda would double the lead in the 18th when she blew through the defense almost to the end line and fired a tight angle shot that beat Ruvalcaba. Ojeda would commit an own goal in the 26th minute when her attempt to head a ball clear instead went into the Santos net. Cinthya Peraza would get an insurance goal in the 42nd minute however when she hit a fantastic scorpion kick in the box. Chivas now sit tied with León with 17 points but are in fifth place due to goal differential.

Tijuana 2, Pachuca 2: A well-fought game by both teams. Xolos Femenil got the first goal of the match in the 12th minute when Inglis Hernández hit a shot from about 25 yards out. Yanin Madrid would tie the match in the 22nd minute when she capped a fantastic play by Pachuca with a header into the top corner of the net. Diana Fierro would give Pachuca the lead in the 36th when the Tijuana defense broke down and she was able to get separation on a break down field, set up, and take her time when the ball made its way to her. Valeria Barajas would be the hero for Tijuana however, when in the 58th minute she would capitalize on some sloppy defending by Pachuca and regain the ball in the box, firing a shot that goalkeeper Alejandría Godínez had no shot of stopping. Pachuca’s lead in Group 1 narrows to just one point over Club América (who has a game in hand), while Tijuana’s 12 points are half of Pachuca’s but just four behind fourth place Puebla.

Next week:

Friday, March 15:

Cruz Azul (2W 3D 6L) vs. Toluca (3W 2D 5L)

Querétaro (1W 1D 8L) vs. Atlas (8W 0D 3L)

Saturday, March 16:

UNAM Pumas (6W 0D 4L) vs. Pachuca (7D 3D 1L)

Sunday, March 17:

Puebla (4W 4D 3L) vs. Club América (7W 2D 1L)

Monarcas Morelia (1W 4D 6L) vs. Necaxa (0W 2D 8L)

Monday, March 18:

Guadalajara (5W 2D 4L) vs. Monterrey (8W 2D 0L)

Tigres UANL (7W 2D 2L) vs. Santos Laguna (4W 3D 4L) - Univision Deportes - 9:55 PM Eastern / 6:55 PM Pacific

Tijuana (3W 3D 5L) vs. Lobos BUAP (2W 3D 6L)

Bye week: León (5W 2D 4L), Veracruz (3W 2D 6L)