Liga MX Femenil recap: 2021 Clausura, Week 10

While this week was condensed to allow for the upcoming doble jornada, it was not short on good soccer. While there were some surprising results, we’re also seeing teams that are pulling things together (and a couple that seem to be falling apart). With just seven weeks left in the season, points are becoming critical and teams are starting to approach the point where their magic number either spell a Liguilla berth or the beginning of planning for the Apertura.

Puebla F.C. 2, Club Atlético de San Luis 0: Puebla gets their first win of the season, downing San Luis 2-0. Lupita Worbis scored her third of the season in the third minute of the game, getting a header at close range on a great pass from Yoya Narváez. Mariana Ramos doubled the lead in the 39th minute with a rocket into the top corner that goalkeeper Stefani Jiménez couldn’t get to. Jiménez did make several key stops to keep the game from getting out of hand including a save on a penalty in the 88th on an attempt from Majo López.

Cruz Azul 2, Pachuca 1: Cruz Azul are now undefeated in their last four as they beat Pachuca 2-1. Gaby Huerta put the home side up early when she got her head onto a corner kick in the eighth minute. Sumiko Gutiérrez tried to clear the ball off of the line but didn’t get enough of a touch on it and it went in. Mónica Ocampo equalized in the 47th when she smashed home the rebound on a shot by Karla Nieto. Itzel Álvarez was the hero though, cleaning up a loose ball on a corner kick in the 65th for her first goal since August of 2019.

Tigres UANL 1, Gallos Blancos de Querétaro 0: Tigres gets the win, but Querétaro more than held their own against the reigning champions. Belén Cruz got the lone goal of the game in the 37th minute thanks to a great pass from Stephany Mayor. There was some controversy however in the 59th minute when Tigres goalkeeper Vania Villalobos waited a bit too long on a clearance and hit the ball into Mayra Santana. Santana was able to head the ball on goal, and Villalobos swatted the ball away from the net. Referee Hector Solorio waved play on, and the AR didn’t overrule, and no goal was awarded. On replay however, it looked like the ball had gone in but without VAR there was no way to tell. Then in the 85th was more controversy as Maritza Maldonado was fouled by Karen Luna. The foul occurred right on the line and Solorio ruled it a free kick, and replays showed it was close but Solorio most likely got that one right.

Santos Laguna 2, UNAM Pumas 2: A draw against a top team that feels like a loss for Santos. After a scoreless first half, Alexia Villanueva scored in the 46th and Cinthya Peraza doubled the lead in the 56th, but Pumas didn’t quit. Daniela García drew one back in the 65th and Marylin Díaz equalized in the 74th to get a point on the road for Pumas.

León 0, Monterrey 3: Rayadas pick up their first win in their last four games as they down León 3-0. Daniela Solís made a great run down the left in the 50th minute, hitting a pass in toward the center of the box. Just before goalkeeper Angeles Martínez could get to it, Christina Burkenroad made a good touch on the ball to redirect it in for her fourth of the season. Then it was the Aylin Aviléz show, as the young forward doubled the lead in the 56th minute when she was in the right place at the right time to poach a rebound off of a defender and knock it in. Aviléz got her brace in the 76th on a wonderful move outside of the box that resulted in a shot inside that beat Martínez. Aviléz now has eight goals in ten appearances which is good enough, but she’s only played in 336 minutes this season which means she scores a goal once every 42 minutes of play.

FC Juárez 1, Atlas 2: A good win on the road for Atlas, as they down Las Bravas 2-1. Vanessa González took the lead for Atlas in the 17th minute with a phenomenal goal from just outside of the box. Celeste Vidal levelled for Juárez just before halftime on a fantastic run and an even better shot in the 43rd minute. Fer Limón was the hero for Atlas on the night though as she was able to get a bouncing ball over the line after Juárez simply could not clear it out of the area. There was a scary scene as the clock approached 90 where Atlas goalkeeper Ana Gaby Paz took a blow to the head when challenging for a ball into the box. She’d leave the game and Nicole Buenfil would finish the match.

Mazatlán FC 2, Necaxa 0: Mazatlán welcomed fans to a game for the first time in club history, treating the 2,180 in attendance to a 2-0 win over Necaxa. Alma Verania López put the home side up as the teams went into stoppage at the end of the first half when she was able to get to a free kick and knock it past goalkeeper Lupita Olvera. Then less than a minute into the second half Meli Ramos was played in on López, chipping the goalkeeper to give Mazatlán the insurance goal.

Guadalajara 1, Toluca 1: A pretty even game, although both teams really needed a win to help strengthen their position for the Liguilla. Former Chivas Femenil player Arlett Tovar was able to get to a corner kick that Chivas couldn’t clear out, knocking it past Celeste Espino to give Toluca the lead. Just when it looked like Toluca was going to get all three points, Licha Cervantes saved the day in stoppage time when she raced to get to a pass, heading it past Daniela Lozano.

América 1, Club Tijuana 2: Tijuana has been playing some really good soccer lately, and they were able to go to Coapa and get all three points against an América side that kind of fell apart. Mayra Pelayo put América up in the fourth minute on a header off of a corner kick, and América looked comfortable with the lead. However at the end of the first half Yadira Toraya drove in toward the América box and tried to cross it, but the ball hit Mónica Rodríguez in the arm and a penalty was given. Renae Cuéllar stepped up and converted the shot from the spot to draw it level as the sides went in for the break. In the 51st minute, Xolos Femenil would pull ahead when Dulce Alvarado made a nice move along the side of the box and smashed a shot home for her first goal for Tijuana. Then Itzel González made several fantastic saves to keep América from equalizing and securing three valuable points for TIjuana.

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

Sunday, March 14:

FC Juárez (1-3-6) vs. Cruz Azul (4-4-2) - TUDN (Mexico) - 9:00 AM

Atlas (7-2-1) vs. Guadalajara (6-2-2) - TVC Deportes (Mexico) - 10:00 AM

Mazatlán FC (4-3-3) vs. Puebla F.C. (1-3-6) - TVP (Mexico) - 10:00 AM

Monterrey (6-1-3) vs. Toluca (4-4-2) - 10:30 AM

Monday, March 15:

UNAM Pumas (6-2-2) vs. Club Atlético de San Luis (2-2-6) - TUDN (United States and Mexico) - 12:00 PM

Necaxa (1-2-7) vs. Gallos Blancos de Querétaro (3-1-6) - Claro Sports (Mexico) - 4:00 PM

Pachuca (4-2-4) vs. León (2-2-6) - FOX Sports (Mexico) - 5:00 PM

América (4-3-3) vs. Tigres UANL (8-1-1) - TUDN (Mexico) - 7:00 PM

Club Tijuana (4-3-3) vs. Santos Laguna (1-4-5) - FOX Sports - 7:00 PM