Clásico Capitalino final a possibility as Copa MX semifinals are set

Mexico’s secondary tournament is almost to its finish line. After a week of quarterfinal fixtures, including a Clásico Nacional, the final four teams are potentially two wins away from a championship.

The first semifinal will pit defending league champs Club America with Tijuana. The game will take place at 6:00 p.m. PT/ 8:00 p.m. CT/ 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 2. As the higher seed, Club America will host the match at the Estadio Azteca.

The other semifinal will include Pumas UNAM and FC Juarez, the lone team from the Ascenso MX. Juarez were the higher seed so the match will be held at the Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez. The ball will get rolling at 7:00 p.m. PT/ 9:00 p.m. CT/ 10:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 3.

The final is set to be played on Wednesday, April 10 with a time yet to be determined.

The headlines:

• After 33 years, Dorados coach Diego Maradona returned to the Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City where he conquered the world at the 1986 World Cup as a player with Argentina. It didn’t go well this time, however, as Dorados lost 3-0 to Bruno Marioni and Pumas in a game where Maradona never got up off the bench.
• There was some controversy after the match as to whether Tijuana had the merits to advance, but it was sorted out in the end after Xolos defeated Morelia 1-0 at the Estadio Morelos.
• In the first edition of this season’s Clásico Nacional, Club America showed up to win while Chivas floundered and fell 2-0 after two defensive errors. Chivas are now hoping to not pull a Real Madrid and lose twice to their most hated rival in the same week, as the same fate that hit Santiago Solari earlier this month could hit Jose Cardozo as well.
• Lastly, FC Juarez conceded a last-minute goal to tie with Veracruz after 90 minutes, but goalkeeper Ivan Vazquez led Los Bravos to a convincing 3-1 win in penalties.
• As the title suggested, there is a good chance this year’s Copa MX final could be a Clásico Capitalino (America & Pumas). Should this happen, it would be the third final between the two sides. The other two were both league finals (1984-85, 1987-88) and both were won by America.
• Las Aguilas are going for their record sixth Copa MX title. Pumas will try for their second, and both Juarez and Tijuana will try for their first.
• Interestingly, none of the clubs left have made a Copa MX final yet since the tournament returned from a 16-year hiatus in 2012.

Who’s advancing to the final? Who’s winning the whole thing? Let us know in the comments below!

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