Liga MX Femenil recap - 2019 Clausura Week 16

With just two weeks left to play, six teams are out and the remaining twelve are jockeying for the eight Liguilla spots.

Cruz Azul 2, Tijuana 2: Although both Cruz Azul and Tijuana have been playing better over the past few weeks, both are now eliminated from the Liguilla as a result of the 2-2 draw. Karen Maprigat got the scoring started for Xolos Femenil in the 38th minute when goalkeeper Mariana Zárraga came out to clear a ball and Maprigat was able to get a touch on before Zárraga, poking the ball past and into the net. Ximena Mendoza was able to equalize in the 41st when she made a great run down the left wing and was able to draw out goalkeeper Itzel González before chipping her. Inglis Hernández was able to regain the lead for Tijuana in the 69th when she hit a screamer from about 20 yards out that beat Zárraga. All looked lost for the hosts until the 87th minute when Norma Gaitan made a move in on goal and fired a strong shot. Hernández was able to make the stop but the rebound went to Gaitan, who crossed it over to Karen Gutierrez. Gutierrez’ shot from close range evaded González and a defender and salvaged a point for Cruz Azul.

Necaxa 1, Querétaro 1: Necaxa got an early goal and looked like they would get their first win of 2019, but a 38th minute equalizer keeps them winless. Claudia Sánchez put the hosts up in the 18th minute on a fantastic volley from just outside of the 18 yard box, but Alejandra Tapia would ruin things for Necaxa when she managed to beat the offside trap and fire a shot past Andrea Rivera. Both teams have been out of the Liguilla hunt for some time now.

Club América 4, Veracruz 0: Another dominant performance from Las Águilas, downing Veracruz 4-0. Lucero Cuevas had another fantastic game for América, with two goals and an assist. Her first came in the sixth minute when she hit a blast from the top of the box that caught goalkeeper Dayri Hernández on the wrong foot. She’d get her second in the 58th from almost the same spot on the pitch on a well placed shot. In the 68th minute, Cuevas would hit a fantastic cross to a wide open Montserrat Hernández who buried her shot past Dayri Hernández. Alondra González would round things out in the 74th minute when she place a header past Dayri Hernández off of a corner kick. América retains the top spot in Group 1 with the win while Veracruz has been eliminated.

Lobos BUAP 4, Pachuca 2: Lobos BUAP are surging at the right time, picking up their fourth straight win against a good Pachuca team. Pachuca’s Karla Nieto would unfortunately put Lobos up in the 24th minute when she scuffed a clearance attempt on a shot and the deflection caromed in past goalkeeper Ana Barrios. Teammate Lizbeth Ángeles would level things in the 43rd minute when she took a pass from Ana López and struck it true and past goalkeeper Paola Manrique. Flor Rodríguez would put Lobos on top for good in the 61st minute when she beat her defender to put a header past Barrios. Rodríguez would get a second in the 84th minute when she again hit a header, this time off of a corner kick. Gloria Narváez would add another for the home side in the 87th on a golazo from the top of the box. Mexican footballing legend Mónica Ocampo would get a consolation goal in stoppage time on a rocket from distance but it was too little, too late. Lobos sit in fourth place with 21 points, however they are scheduled to have their bye week this week while the teams closest to them in the Group 1 table (Puebla and Pumas) have a game in hand. Pachuca are firmly in second place, and could overtake América if Las Águilas lose their remaining games and Pachuca wins out.

Monarcas Morelia 0, Tigres UANL 1: Nayeli Rangel’s goal in the 14th minute was all it took for Tigres to down Monarcas Morelia. Rangel was able to settle a bouncing ball off of a corner and put it into the back of the net past goalkeeper Diana García to get Tigres a critical three points in Group 2. Tigres was able to keep pace with first place Monterrey and third place Atlas, however both Rayadas and Atlas Femenil have a game in hand over UANL. Monarcas have been eliminated from the Liguilla.

Toluca 2, UNAM Pumas 2: Edna Santamaria had a brace as Pumas got a huge point on the road to keep their Liguilla hopes alive. Santamaria put the visitors up in the 25th minute when she corralled a scuffed clearance by goalkeeper Alondra Ubaldo and shot it past into the open net. Toluca would draw level in the 53rd minute when Karen Becerril hit a fantastic touch pass to Ingrid Hidalgo who buried it past goalkeeper Miriam Aguirre. Toluca would go up in the 69th minute when Becerril was able to slice through the Pumas defense and hit a shot off of the underside of the crossbar that was adjudged to have crossed the goal line before bouncing out. Santamaria would save the day for Pumas in the 80th minute when she took a fantastic pass to beat the offside trap, hit a high pass to herself, and smashed a volley into the back of the net. Pumas is two points out of a Liguilla spot with a game in hand on Lobos BUAP. Toluca was eliminated with the draw and Lobos BUAP’s win.

Monterrey 4, León 1: Rayadas all but cinched up the top seed in Group 2 with a dominant performance against León. Monterrey got on the board when Daniela Solís played a great ball into the box. Alicia Cervantes dummied the ball and Diana Evangelista was there to hit the ball into the wide open net. Three minutes later it would be Mónica Monsiváis doubling the lead on a header into the top corner of the net off of a corner kick. Two minutes after that in the 26th Selena Castillo would hit a header off of a corner kick to make it 3-0 for the hosts. Yamile Franco would get León on the board in the 75th minute when she converted a penalty, but it was not enough. Aylin Aviléz got one more for Rayadas in stoppage when she was able to get past two defenders and poke the ball past goalkeeper Gabriela Herrera. Monterrey is two points up on archrivals Tigres for first place in Group 2 with a game in hand, while León is one point up on Guadalajara for fourth place.

Santos Laguna 0, Atlas 2: Atlas kept pace with the Monterrey clubs in Group 2 with a solid win over a Santos team that has steadily improved over the season. Ana García would put Atlas on the board in the 54th minute when she was able to poke a ball off the foot of a Santos defender as she attempted to clear the ball. Valeria Rozo would get an insurance goal in the 80th minute when a free kick bounced off of teammate Fabiola Ibarra and Rozo hit a laser past goalkeeper Diana Sánchez to ensure the three points. Atlas are in the Liguilla and coud finish anywhere from first to third in Group 2 depending on the results of the last two weeks. Santos are mathematically still alive, but they’d need to win their final match against Monterrey by five and have León and Chivas to lose out.

Next week:

Friday, April 12:

Querétaro (1W 2D 11L) vs. Monarcas Morelia (3W 4D 7L)

Saturday, April 13:

Atlas (10W 1D 3L) vs. Monterrey (11W 2D 1L)

UNAM Pumas (6W 1D 7L) vs. Cruz Azul (3W 4D 7L)

Monday, April 15:

Veracruz (3W 2D 9L) vs. Toluca (4W 3D 7L)

Pachuca (9W 3D 2L) vs. Club América (11W 2D 1L)

Tigres UANL (10W 3D 2L) vs. Guadalajara (6W 2D 6L)

León (6W 3D 5L) vs. Necaxa (0W 4D 10L)

Tijuana (3W 4D 8L) vs. Puebla (6W 4D 4L)

Bye week: Lobos BUAP (6W 3D 6L), Santos Laguna (5W 3D 7L)