Liga MX Femenil recap - 2019 Clausura Week 17

With just one week left in the Liga MX Femenil season, the Liguilla spots are still largely up for grabs, although Monterrey has clinched the superlider and several teams have already been eliminated, setting the stage for a thrilling final week.

Querétaro 0, Monarcas Morelia 0: Querétaro goalkeeper Natalia Acuña got her second shutout of the season while her foil Maricruz Gonzalez earned her first as Querétaro and Morelia played to a scoreless draw. Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention, however Querétaro falls to ninth place in the Group 2 table while Monarcas stay at seventh.

Atlas 0, Monterrey 3: A statement win by Rayadas on the road, downing Atlas 3-0 at Estadio Colomos Alfredo ‘Pistache’ Torres. Diana Evangelista got her second goal of the season in the 15th minute when she followed up on a rebound on her initial shot, dribbled around goalkeeper Ana Paz, and shot into the open net. Alicia Cervantes would double the lead in the 62nd minute when she got on the end of a Rebeca Bernal cross into the box and chipped it over Paz for her fourth goal of the season. Aylin Aviléz would add an insurance goal two minutes later when Evangelista broke down the left and hit a cross that Aviléz was able to tap in from close range. With the win, Monterrey clinched the superlider while Atlas will finish in third place in Group 2.

UNAM Pumas 3, Cruz Azul 0: Pumas broke out of their funk with a solid 3-0 win over a steadily improving Cruz Azul squad, getting their first win in six games. Patricia Jardón put the home side up in the 17th minute when she got the end of a cross from Daniela García and hit it past diving goalkeeper Mariana Zárraga for her first goal of the season. Edna Santamaria scored her sixth goal of the season in the 51st minute when she was able to split the defenders on a great through ball from Dania Padilla, beating Zárraga with a shot back against the grain. García would get her fourth of the season in the 61st when Pumas was able to crack the Cruz Azul defense after a flurry of shots. García was able to get the ball in the box and shoot it past Zárraga for the third and final goal of the match. Sharon Barba was sent off in the 64th when she picked up her second yellow card. Pumas was able to reclaim the fourth and final spot in Group 1 from Lobos BUAP, who were on a bye week. Pumas is up one point on Lobos, while the teams are tied with a +4 goal differential.

Veracruz 1, Toluca 0: Diana Zacarías’ goal in the 21st minute was the deciding factor as Veracruz downed Toluca. Zacarías was in the right place at the right time to get to a rebound given up by goalkeeper Dayan Téllez and slot it home. With the loss (and the Pumas win), Toluca is eliminated from Liguilla contention and sit in sixth place in Group 1, while the win moves Veracruz to seventh from ninth place.

Pachuca 1, Club América 0: Ana López’ goal in the 29th minute courtesy of a fantastically weighted pass from Mónica Ocampo pushed Pachuca past Club América. The win puts Tuzos Femenil within two points of Las Águilas for the lead of Group 1.

Tigres UANL 2, Guadalajara 1: While this match promised to showcase two of the better offenses in the league, it was goalkeeper Ofelia Solís and Blanca Félix who put on a show and kept the scores down by making fantastic saves. It started off as advertised however, with Belén Cruz getting Tigres on the board in the fourth minute when she got on the end of a Lizbeth Ovalle cross and beat Félix with a header. Ana Huerta was able to draw level in the seventh minute when she calmly hit a Tania Morales pass into an empty net. The game would be decided in the 87th minute when Priscilla Padilla deflected a Katty Martínez header into her own net to seal the win for Tigres, who will be in second place in Group 2 no matter what happens on their bye week next week. Chivas sit one point behind León for fourth place and the final spot in the Liguilla.

León 0, Necaxa 1: Necaxa got their first win of the season on the road against a León squad that now must win next week to clinch a Liguilla berth. Libeth Castro got the game’s solitary goal in the 18th minute when she was able to beat Gabriela Herrera to a rebound and poke it home. Necaxa’s win leapfrogs them over Querétaro into eighth place in Group 2, while León holds a tenuous grasp on fourth place.

Tijuana 0, Puebla 1: Xolos Femenil end a disappointing season with a loss at home to Puebla. Mariela Jiménez was able to beat her defender, draw out goalkeeper Itzel González, and slot home the game’s only goal. Tijuana will finish in ninth place in Group 1, while Puebla clinches a Liguilla berth, unable to finish lower than fourth in the group.

Next week:

Friday, April 19:

Cruz Azul (3W 4D 8L) vs. Veracruz (4W 2D 9L)

Necaxa (1W 4D 10L) vs. Atlas (10W 1D 4L)

Monterrey (12W 2D 1L) vs. Santos Laguna (5W 3D 7L)

Saturday, April 20:

Club América (11W 2D 2L) vs. Lobos BUAP (6W 3D 6L)

Sunday, April 21:

Puebla (7W 4D 4L) vs. UNAM Pumas (7W 1D 7L)

Guadalajara (6W 2D 7L) vs. Querétaro (1W 3D 11L)

Monday, April 22:

Monarcas Morelia (3W 5D 7L) vs. León (6W 3D 6L)

Toluca (4W 3D 8L) vs. Pachuca (10W 3D 2L)

Bye week: Tijuana (3W 4D 9L), Tigres UANL (11W 3D 2L)