Liga MX Femenil recap - Week 8

After a tough doble jornada that saw teams play three games within the span of little more than a week, Liga MX Femenil will go on hiatus for an international break. This past weekend’s games though saw these women gut out a tough stretch, with teams proving their mettle to get points that will undoubtedly help them when it comes time for the Liguilla.

Puebla 0, UNAM Pumas 0: Pumas and Puebla played to a scoreless draw to open the weekend action. Goalkeeper Melany Villeda and her defense have now played in three straight scoreless draws, with 0-0 results at Necaxa and against Veracruz at home as well.

Necaxa 0, Morelia 2: Monarcas Morelia has slowly and quietly climbed into striking distance of a playoff spot thanks to their win against Necaxa. Morelia would get their first in the 68th minute when María Ruíz beat several Necaxa defenders and then swung the ball out to the left to Karla Jiménez, who hit a shot that beat goalkeeper Balbina Treviño to the far post. Then in the 70th Monarcas would score again, when Alejandra Calderón sprung Jiménez on the left side of the pitch. Jiménez played the ball centrally to Dalia Molina, who beat her defender and shot the ball into the open net.

Veracruz 0, Toluca 0: Veracruz got their third shutout in a row as they hold Toluca to a scoreless draw. Toluca has only lost once in its last five matches, and both clubs are still in a good position to make the Liguilla.

América 2, Tijuana 0: After a bit of a shaky start to their season, Club América has seemingly righted the ship. Las Águilas beat Tijuana 2-0 for their third straight win and haven’t lost since opening day. To their credit, Tijuana played well but ultimately it was two mistakes that did them in. In the 26th minute, Jana Gutiérrez hit a pass into space in the box. Montserrat Hernández slipped her defender and was able to get to the ball and her shot went past goalkeeper Itzel González. In the 49th, Daniela Espinosa would get the ball deep in the box and play a square ball to an onrushing Lucero Cuevas. González dove to try and disrupt the pass but it was just out of her reach, and Cuevas was able to put the ball into the empty net. Any chance of a comeback was dashed in the 69th minute when Yadira Toraya picked up her second yellow card and was sent off.

Pachuca 3, Cruz Azul 1: After winning their first four games, Cruz Azul has lost their last four and find themselves currently out of Liguilla contention. Pachuca meanwhile is still sitting at the top of the table, not having ventured below second place all season. Paola López put Pachuca up just 11 minutes into the game with a right-footed blast from a tough angle. Tuzos Femenil would continue to press throughout the first half. Itzel Cruz would pull one back for the visitors in the 48th minute when she dribbled past a defender and hit a shot from almost the same spot López’ shot had gone in from. Viridiana Salazar would put Pachuca up for good in the 76th when she was given a little bit of space at the top of the box, took a pass from Lizbeth Ángeles, and fired a shot that tucked inside of the post past goalkeeper Karla Morales for her sixth goal of the season. Priscila Gaitan added the insurance goal in the 86th minute when Salazar hit a fantastic ball forward that sliced through the defense. Gaitan got on it and fired a shot past Morales.

Tigres UANL 3, Monterrey 2: A Clásico Regiomontano that lived up to its billing. Rayadas would strike first in the ninth minute when Diana Evangelista picked up a loose ball in the box, cut past her defender, and fired a left footed blast into the top of the net past goalkeeper Ofelia Solís. There was some controversy just before the half as a penalty was awarded to Tigres when Jacqueline Ovalle went down in the box. Liliana Mercado stepped up and converted the penalty to level the sides. Desirée Monsiváis would get her league leading seventh goal in the 49th minute when she cut through the middle of two defenders, juked past a third, and fired a shot into the corner of the net. Katty Martínez would equalize in the 61st minute when she got her head on a free kick from Mercado that redirected it past goalkeeper Claudia Lozoya. A minute later, Martínez would link up with Ovalle to get the game winner when Ovalle sent in a cross from the left side of the box and Martínez was again able to place a header past Lozoya.

Atlético San Luis 0, Querétaro 2: A good crowd of almost 5,900 was in attendance as Querétaro downed San Luis 2-0. Daniela Vázquez put Querétaro up in the 61st minute on a close range shot that looked like it was deflected by a defender, causing the ball to arc up and over goalkeeper Cintia Monreal. Lizette Calderón would add another in the 87th minute when she hit a brilliant shot from the top of the arc.

Guadalajara 1, Juárez 0: Juárez seems to be improving, but Chivas was still able to eke out the 1-0 win at Estadio Akron. Goalkeeper Blanca Félixz got her third shutout of the season and Kinberly Guzmán capitalized on an error by goalkeeper Silvia Machuca to give Chivas their first win in three games.

Santos Laguna 0, Atlas 0: A good draw for Santos Femenil against an Atlas side that had caught fire as of late. Santos gets their first point since a Week 3 draw against Tigres, while Atlas remains unbeaten over their last five matches. Atlas goalkeeper Ana Gaby Paz hasn’t allowed a goal in 302 minutes of play, while Santos goalkeeper Wendy Toledo got her second shutout of the season.

Bye week: León

Next week:

Friday, September 6:

Cruz Azul (4W 0D 4L) vs. Guadalajara (4W 0D 3L)

Querátaro (4W 1D 2L) vs. Pachuca (6W 1D 1L)

Juárez (0W 2D 6L) vs. Necaxa (0W 1D 6L)

Saturday, September 7:

Atlas (3W 3D 2L) vs. Puebla (3W 1D 4L)

UNAM Pumas (1W 4D 3L) vs. Santos Laguna (1W 2D 4L)

Monday, September 9:

Morelia (3W 1D 4L) vs. León (1W 3D 3L)

Toluca (4W 2D 2L) vs. Tigres UANL (4W 3D 0L)

Monterrey (6W 0D 2L) vs. América (4W 2D 1L)

Tijuana (3W 2D 2L) vs. Atlético San Luis (2W 2D 4L)

Bye week: Veracruz (2W 4D 2L)