Liga MX Femenil recap: 2020 Apertura, Week 9

This week, fans were treated to a marquee matchup in prime time on Monday as Chivas and Rayadas squared off. The battle did not disappoint, as Chivas staked their claim as the best team in the league and knocked off the defending champions. The Clásico Capitalino also didn’t disappoint, as what in the 85th minute looked like would be a 0-0 draw ended in 1-1.

Gallos Blancos de Querétaro 2, Necaxa 0: Necaxa was better than the scoreline reflected perhaps, losing 2-0 to Querétaro. Necaxa had calls for a handball in the 17th minute when Dulce Alvarado attempted a cross in the box and it hit off of Marypaz Barbosa’s arm, but the referee waved it off. Then just minutes later a botched clearance in the box by a Necaxa defender fell to Adriana Orozco. Orozco didn’t connect with her shot, but knocked the ball forward to Lizette Rodríguez, who did connect with hers, knocking it past Doris Meza in the 20th minute. Alvarado almost equalized in the 24th when she hit a shot that bounced off of the crossbar and down, and while replays showed the ball might have crossed over the line the goal was not given. Necaxa kept pressing, but unfortunately for them lightning struck for Querétaro in the 73rd when Fatima Servin hit a perfect free kick into the top corner of the net to widen their lead.

Cruz Azul 2, FC Juárez 0: Cruz Azul had floundered a bit lately but got a good solid win against a Juárez team that had been trending upward. Cruz Azul got on the board early when Paola Espino hit a shot in the 17th minute that Juárez goalkeeper Stefani Jiménez didn’t react to quickly enough. Jiménez made up for it a few minutes later, making a good save on a shot in the box from Susana Romero. Romero drew a penalty in the 64th minute and Marylin Díaz converted from the spot to give the home side the 2-0 win. Verónica Jiménez got her first shutout of the season in her first start of the season for La Maquina.

Atlas 3, Puebla F.C. 0: Another dominant win for Atlas, who are quietly keeping pace with the pack leaders. Joana Robles got Atlas on the board in the second minute when she fought off a defender, shot into Brissa Rangel, picked up her own rebound, and shot again past Rangel into the back of the net. Then in the 49th Alison González got to a ball down the right wing, beat her defender, and then shot past Rangel to double the lead. Then in the 87th González took a pass from Adriana “Boyi” Iturbide and hit a one-time shot past a diving Rangel to finish the job for Atlas.

UNAM Pumas 1, América 1: A game worthy of the title “clásico” this one had just about everything. The teams were very evenly matched and the game looked like it was headed for a 0-0 draw as both teams were bailed out on occasion by their goalkeepers and the woodwork. América looked to have cinched the match in the 89th when Dani Espinosa hit a free kick that looked to have been redirected on its way to the net by a Pumas defender. But Pumas got a wondergoal in the 94th minute from Liliana Rodríguez, who smashed one into the top corner from distance to secure the draw for the home side.

Toluca 1, Club Atlético de San Luis 0: A fairly even game that both sides can learn from. The only goal of the match came in the 47th when Paola Urbieta unfortunately knocked a cross into her own net past Cintia Monreal, who looks to have won her starting job back from Heidi González, Monreal made a fantastic diving save in the 69th to keep her team in it but it just wasn’t to be for Atleti.

Pachuca 0, Tigres UANL 2: Tigres keeps on winning, downing a tough Pachuca team 2-0 on the road. Tigres dominated the chances in the first half, however Pachuca had some decent looks to start the second. Tigres would regain control of the game but Pachuca held them off until the 84th minute when Liliana Mercado whipped a free kick into the box. Fer Elizondo was left unmarked, and easily slotted the ball past Silvia Machuca. Deep into stoppage time, Stefany Mayor was able to beat the offside trap and get to a ball, knowcking it past Machuca for the insurance goal.

Santos Laguna 0, Club Tijuana 0: Tijuana picks up their first point of the year as Xolos Femenil and Santos play to a 0-0 draw. Tijuana played the final 33 minutes down a player as Samantha Arellano picked up her second yellow card for a bad tackle. Wendy Toledo picked up Player of the Match for earning her third shutout of the season and hasn’t conceded a goal in the last 180 minutes.

Mazatlán FC 1, León 1: A good draw for Mazatlán who has struggled against a León team that has underperformed this season. Ex-Santos Laguna forward Yahaira Flores had her first goal of the season in the 45th minute when she hit a rocket of a free kick into the top of the net. The lead wouldn’t last however as Sanjuana Muñoz converted a corner kick, knocking it past Mariana Zárraga in the 56th minute. León remains in 12th place, two points out of a playoff spot.

Monterrey 2, Guadalajara 4: A potential preview of the Liguilla as two of the best teams faced off in El Gigante de Acero. Alicia “Licha” Cervantes put Chivas on the board first in the 25th when she got her head onto a corner kick. Rayadas equalized in the 28th when Dani Solís made a great run down the left, stopped on a dime inside of the box, cut inside, and hit a beautiful right-footed shot. The lead wouldn’t last though when Licha hit a perfectly weighted pass on a run to María Sánchez, who hit it in stride along the grass to beat Alejandría Godínez in the 37th. Then after the halftime break Licha would enact more revenge on her old team, getting to a through ball from Norma Palafox and hitting a shot that Godínez initially stopped. But Cervantes was able to get to the rebound and hit a shot into the open net. In the 63rd Sánchez would test Godínez with a strong shot from the left side. Godínez gave up a rebound straight to Palafox, who knocked it into the empty net. Monterrey got a slight glimmer of hope in stoppage as Aylin Aviléz hit a shot that Blanca Félix got a hand on but couldn’t stop, but it was too little too late as Chivas ends Rayadas’ win streak at eight on the season.

Next week:

Thursday, October 8:

Club Atlético de San Luis (3W 0D 6L) vs. UNAM Pumas (4W 2D 3L)

Friday, October 9:

Necaxa (1W 0D 8L) vs. León (2W 3D 4L)

FC Juárez (3W 1D 5L) vs. Santos Laguna (1W 4D 4L) - 6:55 PM Eastern / 3:55 PM Pacific (TUDN)

Saturday, October 10:

Puebla F.C. (2W 2D 5L) vs. Mazatlán FC (2W 1D 6L)

Tigres UANL (8W 1D 0L) vs. América (7W 2D 0L) - 7:55 PM Eastern / 4:55 PM Pacific (TUDN USA Facebook)

Sunday, October 11:

Toluca (3W 1D 5L) vs. Monterrey (8W 0D 1L)

Pachuca (5W 1D 3L) vs. Gallos Blancos de Querétaro (3W 2D 4L)

Guadalajara (8W 1D 0L) vs. Atlas (6W 2D 1L) - 8:00 PM Eastern / 5:00 PM Pacific (Telemundo Deportes App)

Monday, October 12:

Club Tijuana (0W 1D 8L) vs. Cruz Azul (2W 2D 5L)