Liga MX Femenil recap - 2019 Clausura Week 18

The 2019 Clausura is officially in the books. We now know the eight teams in the Liguilla, who will play and when they’ll play. But first, the rundown of the last week.

Cruz Azul 0, Veracruz 1: Liliana Hernández was able to capitalize on an error by Cruz Azul goalkeeper Karen Gómez in the 68th minute to score the only goal of the match. Even though neither team finished near the Liguilla, both teams showed marked improvement toward the end of the season and should build on that for next year.

Necaxa 0, Atlas 2: Fabiola Ibarra got her league lead tying seventh goal of the season as Atlas beat Necaxa 2-0. Alison González hit a cross to Ibarra in the fourth minute, and she was able to evade a defender and hit a tight-angle shot to the far post to put Atlas on the board. Ibarra would return the favor to González in the 24th minute when she played in a free kick from distance into the mixer. Adriana Iturbide had a brilliant touch on the ball out to González, who buried the ball into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season. Atlas finishes in third place in Group 2 and will face Pachuca in the first round.

Monterrey 3, Santos Laguna 2: Monterrey goes into the Liguilla as the superlider, although Santos has shown improvement over the season and held their own. Rayadas got the scoring started in the first minute when Mónica Monsiváis was played through, beating her defender to the ball and goalkeeper Wendy Toledo far post. Monsiváis would double the lead in the 24th minute when Diana Evangelista broke through the Santos defense and played a ball back toward Monsiváis, who shot the ball at pace past Toledo. Aylin Aviléz would score just four minutes later when Alexia Frías’ centering pass was tipped by Yahaira Flores. Aviléz would shoot, striking the ball at hip height that looked to deflect off of Ana Gutíerrez. That deflection was enough to throw Toledo off, and the ball wriggled through her hands and slowly rolled into the back of the net. Santos didn’t quit however, as evidenced in the 53rd minute when Isela Ojeda got on the end of a through ball that goalkeeper Claudia Lozoya looked to have locked up. The ball came loose, and from flat on her back Ojeda was able to kick the ball into the net to tie her with Fabiola Ibarra for the most goals in the Clausura. In the 79th, Santos would get within one when Cinthya Peraza chipped Lozoya. The ball bounced off of the crossbar and to Peraza, who shot the ball in. It was too little, too late however for Santos who despite a late charge missed out on the Liguilla. Monterrey will face Pumas in the first round.

Club América 1, Lobos BUAP 0: Club América solidified their lead in Group 1 and ended Lobos BUAP’s Liguilla dreams with a 1-0 win. Daniela Espinosa’s header off of a long-distance free kick in the 11th minute seemed to catch goalkeeper Paola Manrique by surprise, and that would be all that América needed. América will face León in the Liguilla.

Puebla 1, UNAM Pumas 0: Maria Lopez got her foot on the end of a corner kick in the fifth minute to get the only score of the match as Puebla beat Pumas 1-0. Had Lobos BUAP gotten a point they would have been in the Liguilla with Pumas being the odd team out. Pumas will be playing against Monterrey in the Liguilla, while Puebla will face Tigres.

Guadalajara 3, Querétaro 1: Querétaro was able to score first when Melissa Arredondo hit a shot from behind the halfway line that bounced up and over goalkeeper Blanca Félix. The second half belonged to Chivas however, thanks in part to Kristal Soto. Soto came on in the second half and in the 52nd minute repaid the faith by scoring off of a scuffed shot by Ana Huerta. Miriam Castillo would get her head on a corner kick just four minutes later to double the lead. In the 60th minute, Dania Pérez would convert a penalty to complete the rout. Despite the win, Chivas couldn’t overcome losing five of their last seven games and a late León surge. Querétaro finishes in last place in Liga MX Femenil.

Monarcas Morelia 2, León 3: Michelle Vargas propelled La Fiera into the Liguilla with a brace as León held off Monarcas in the match and Chivas in the standings. Vargas started the scoring in the 34th minute when she was played through on a great ball from Yamile Franco and chipped goalkeeper Maricruz Gonzalez. Dalia Molina would equalize in the 57th for Monarcas when she was able to head the ball past goalkeeper Sandra Lozano despite a heavy collision with Lozano as both went for the ball. Franco regained the lead for León in the 67th minute when she hit a shot from close range after a fantastic give-and-go. Vargas got her second of the afternoon in the 81st when she was able to corral a pass, fight off a defender, and hit a well placed shot pas Gonzalez. Maria Cruzaley would draw one back in the 88th on a beautiful free kick from just outside of the box, but the comeback ended there. León will face Club América in the first round.

Toluca 2, Pachuca 3: A wild one in Toluca that saw the hosts come up just short against Pachuca. Sanjuana Muñoz started things off in the 12th minute when she was able to flick on a cross from Ana López past Dayan Téllez. Brenda Carvajal would knot things up just six minutes later when she hit a worldie from about 30 yards out. Zaira Miranda would give the hosts the lead in the 53rd when she converted a penalty, but it would be short lived. In the 66th minute, Esbeydi Salazar got on the end of a cross and put it into the back of the net with a jumping kick. Salazar would get her brace just three minutes later when she was able to head another great cross from the right side past Téllez. Pachuca will play Atlas in the first round of the Liguilla.

The Liguilla

The first round takes place starting today and ending on Monday. All times listed are Central:

Wednesday, April 24:

UNAM Pumas (8) vs. Monterrey (1) - 4:00 PM

Thursday, April 25:

Puebla (6) vs. Tigres UANL (3) - 4:30 PM

Atlas (5) vs. Pachuca (4) - 5:00 PM

León (7) vs. Club América (2) - 9:00 PM

Saturday, April 27:

Monterrey (1) vs. UNAM Pumas (8) - 9:06 PM

Sunday, April 28:

Club América (2) vs. León (7) - 4:00 PM

Monday, April 29:

Pachuca (4) vs. Atlas (5) - 7:00 PM

Tigres UANL (3) vs. Puebla (6) - 8:00 PM