Liga MX Femenil recap: 2021 Clausura, Week 7

Lots to talk about with this week’s matches. Pumas and Atlas are still unbeaten, with their Week 16 matchup looking like it will have playoff implications. Pumas goalkeeper Melany Villeda hasn’t allowed a goal all season, with the lone goal the team let in coming with Miriam Aguirre in net. Atlas meanwhile is getting otherworldly production from Alison González, who leads the league with nine goals in seven games failing to score just once (Week 4 against León).

Necaxa 0, Guadalajara 2: Don’t look now but Chivas are getting it done, downing Necaxa 2-0 to move into fourth place. Chivas dominated the match, getting chance after chance against Las Centellas. Alicia “Licha” Cervantes scored her fourth goal of the season in the 30th minute and Isabella Gutiérrez doubled the lead in the 63rd. Necaxa also suffered the loss of two players to injury during the game, as coach Leonardo Álvarez confirmed in the post-game presser that Daniela Muñoz suffered a broken clavicle and Lessli Horta would be under observation to rule out a ruptured ACL.

Gallos Blancos de Querétaro 1, América 2: Another day and this could have been a different scoreline as both teams played well and looked dangerous. Eva González put América up in the ninth minute on a golazo from outside of the area. Dani Espinosa got her third of the season in the 77th minute, but Lizette Rodríguez drew one back in the 82nd when she converted a penalty to keep Querétaro in it. Ultimately though América hung on for their third win of the season.

Atlas 3, Santos Laguna 2: Atlas continues their fine run of form but credit to Santos Laguna who fought back despite being down three goals early. Alison González got her league leading eighth and ninth goals in the 13th and 31st minutes respectively, sandwiching Ana García’s third of the season in the 27th. Alexxandra Ramírez drew one back for Santos in the 49th, but play was stopped a minute later when Wendy Toledo made a diving save and hit her head on the post and then the ground. Toledo was on the turf for several terrifying minutes but was able to complete the match. Joseline Hernández scored for Santos in the 82nd minute but a third goal would not come and Atlas keeps pace with superlíder Pumas. Santos confirmed via a press release that Toledo will be out 10-14 days with a grade two cervical (neck) sprain with no damage to her brain or skull.

UNAM Pumas 1, Pachuca 0: A tough, hard fought match between two very good teams. Daniela García’s goal in the fifth minute was the game winner for the home side, but it was a solid defensive effort from Pumas that kept Pachuca’s offense from scoring. Melany Villeda made two saves to get her sixth straight shutout this season.

Monterrey 3, FC Juárez 4: This week’s shocker as Juárez goes to El Barrial and beats Rayadas 4-3, dominating the home side. Rayadas scored first with a Desirée Monsiváis header off of a set piece in the 12th. From then, it was all Juárez. Miah Zuazua got her first goal with Juárez in the 24th minute, Celeste Vidal hit a golazo in the 35th, Atzimba Casas got her third of the season in stoppage time at the end of the first half, and Karen Loya scored off of a set piece in the 52nd to put the visitors up 4-1. Monterrey would get two back, one from Christina Burkenroad in the 77th and one from Daniela Solís just before time expired, but it wasn’t enough.

Club Atlético de San Luis 3, Mazatlán FC 0: San Luis gets their second shutout in two games as they down Mazatlán 3-0. Kimberly Reséndiz scored in the 49th, and Andrea Ibarra and Daniela Carrandi got their first goals of the season in the 54th and 79th minutes respectively. San Luis’ win leaves only Puebla and Necaxa winless on the season.

Toluca 1, Cruz Azul 1: A very good match between two very good teams. Toluca looked like they were going to get their second loss in a row when Alexandra Curiel drew a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half and converted the penalty for her fourth goal of the season. But Carolina Miranda capped a wonderful counterattack in the 62nd minute to pull out the draw for Toluca.

León 0, Tigres UANL 4: After a bit of a shaky start Tigres has found their groove, hammering León for a 4-0 win. Stephany Mayor got her fourth goal of the season in the 11th minute, Katty “Killer” Martínez got a brace in eight minutes when she scored two amazing goals in the 20th and 28th minutes, and María Sánchez capped it off in the 61st minute with her first of the season. Vania Villalobos got her second start and second shutout of the season.

Club Tijuana 0, Puebla F.C. 0: Puebla and Xolos Femenil played to a 0-0 draw days after Puebla fired former coach Jorge Gómez and let five players go. It was Puebla’s first shutout of the season and second draw, while Tijuana is now unbeaten in four straight with their second shutout.

Next week (all records are in W-D-L format):

Monday, February 22:

Santos Laguna (1-0-5) vs. Puebla F.C. (0-2-4) - 4:00 PM Central

All other teams have off for the international break.