Liga MX Femenil recap - Week 10

On the verge of another doble jornada, Liga MX Femenil had a huge week, culminating with a Clásico Nacional between Chivas de Guadalajara and arch-nemesis Club América for the first time since 2017 and the first time in league play ever. While the game largely lived up to the hype, there were some other really good matches throughout the week.

Monterrey 4, Veracruz 0: Monterrey continues to be the class of Liga MX Femenil, dominating a decent Veracruz team. Desirée Monsiváis tallied her league-leading eleventh goal of the season in the seventh minute when she hit a shot from inside the box that seemed to catch goalkeeper María Ayala by surprise. Dinora Garza doubled the lead in the 36th minute when she teed up a shot from about 25 yards out that beat Ayala far post. Diana Evangelista got her sixth goal of the season in the 70th minute when she was played in one-on-one on Ayala and hit a slicing shot. Daniela Solís completed the rout in the 88th minute with a hopeful shot from distance that Ayala couldn’t get to in time.

Querétaro 1, Tijuana 1: A good road point for Tijuana, going to Querétaro and getting a draw against a slumping Gallos Femenil. Karen Hernández hit a header off of a Luz Ruíz corner kick in the 56th minute that bounced off of the ground and up and over goalkeeper Itzel González. Inglis Hernández would equalize for Xolos Femenil in the 78th though when she played a give and go with Betsy Cuevas and then hit a showcase chip over goalkeeper Ivette Alvarado.

Tigres UANL 4, Atlético San Luis 0: Another Monterrey club, another lopsided result against a decent team as Tigres thrashes Atlético San Luis in Estadio Universitario. Katty Martínez got her seventh goal in the 14th minute with a header off of a great cross from Jackie Ovalle. Liliana Mercado tallied in the 34th minute when she hit a perfectly placed free kick that banged off of the bottom of the far post and in past goalkeeper Cintia Monreal. Tigres got their third goal when Atlético San Luis defender Paola Urbieta deflected a cross past Monreal for an autogol in the 64th minute. Jackie Ovalle got a goal of her own in the 71st when she was played in on the left and hit a blast past Monreal for the fourth and final goal of the evening.

Puebla 1, Morelia 3: Morelia continues their push up the table as they come from behind to down Puebla on the road. Mariam Castro capitalized off of some poor defending in the 12th minute when she was able to pounce on a loose ball in the box and somehow force it in. Alejandra Calderón leveled things in the 41st minute when Karla Jiménez drew four defenders and hit a pass to the wide open Calderón, who calmly slotted it past Brissa Rangel. Calderón got the game winner in the 49th minute when Jiménez floated a cross to her into the box that she headed in a steep arc into the far corner of the net. 10 minutes later, Lizette Rodríguez again drew multiple defenders in the box and found the open player, this time it was Dalia Molina who was the lucky recipient of a ball in front of a wide open net.

Toluca 1, Juárez 0: For a club that was assembled at the last minute, Juárez has pulled themselves together in a short amount of time and gave a decent account of themselves against Toluca at Estadio Nemesio Díez. Mariel Román got the game’s lone goal in the 72nd minute when Yamanic Martínez headed a Noemi Granados free kick to her while she was unmarked in the box.

Guadalajara 4, América 2: The Clásico Nacional largely lived up to the hype, as Chivas hosted América. Chivas took the lead in the 36th minute when Diana Rodríguez headed in a cross form Janelly Farías, and then doubled it seven minutes later when Tania Morales got a foot on a cross from Rubí Soto out on the right wing. After the half Miriam Castillo hit a golazo from about 30 yards out, arcing up and in and off of the hand of goalkeeper Jaidy Gutiérrez. Seven minutes later, Joseline Montoya got a ball on the left, faked out a couple of defenders, and hit a shot back across the grain and into the far corner. América would make a comeback though. In the 63rd minute Daniela Espinosa got her head onto a free kick and redirected it in past goalkeeper Blanca Félix. Espinosa would get one more a minute later when she chested a ball and then hit a half-volley past Félix and it looked like the rally was on, but Chivas was able to hold off the visitors until the final whistle.

Pachuca 2, Atlas 2: Two of the heavy hitters faced off as Pachuca and Atlas drew at Estadio Hidalgo. Atlas got out to the early lead when Pachuca goalkeeper Alejandría Godínez came way off of her line to clear a ball, but it only went as far as Alison González, who hit a shot from just past the halfway line. Atlas would score again in the 35th minute when Boyi Iturbide was able to chest down a ball and smash it in from close range. But Pachuca was given a lifeline just before the half when Atlas defender Zellyka Arce attempted to clear the ball but instead put it into her own net. Then before the halftime whistle blew, Johana Robles was sent off for a foul on Diana Fierro. Then Atlas manager Fernando Samayoa was sent off during the halftime break. Fierro would score the equalizer in the 74th minute when she hit a shot from within the area to beat Ana Gaby Paz.

León 3, Necaxa 0: A quick triplet from León gave Necaxa their seventh loss of the season. Sanjuana Muñoz had a quick double, scoring in the box in the 63rd and then getting on a rebound and hitting a left-footed blast in the 75th. Daniela Calderón added a third a minute later to give León their second win of the torneo.

Santos Laguna 2, Cruz Azul 0: Cruz Azul continues to spiral, losing five of their last six as Santos picks up a much needed win. Arlett Tovar put Santos on the board in the 80th minute when she hit a free kick from the halfway line that inexplicably froze goalkeeper Gabriela Herrera and bounced into the net. Yahaira Flores beat Herrera with another long-distance free kick just into stoppage time. Things took an ugly turn after when Cruz Azul’s Jessica Tenorio was sent off for leading into a tackle on Cinthiya Peraza with her knees.

Bye week: Pumas UNAM

Next week:

Wednesday, September 18:

Tijuana (4W 3D 2L) vs. Morelia (5W 1D 4L)

Thursday, September 19:

Atlas (4W 4D 2L) vs. Toluca (5W 3D 2L)

Necaxa (0W 2D 7L) vs. Puebla (3W 1D 6L)

Veracruz (2W 4D 3L) vs. Santos Laguna (2W 2D 5L)

América (4W 2D 3L) vs. León (2W 3D 4L)

Pachuca (7W 2D 1L) vs. Tigres UANL (5W 4D 0L)

Atlético San Luis (2W 2D 6L) vs. Monterrey (8W 0D 2L)

Juárez (0W 3D 7L) vs. UNAM Pumas (2W 4D 3L)

Guadalajara (5W 1D 3L) vs. Querétaro (4W 2D 3L)

Bye week: Cruz Azul (4W 1D 5L)