Liga MX Femenil recap: 2021 Clausura Semifinals

After two good series, we know it will be either Tigres adding a fourth trophy in their cabinet or Chivas adding a second. It’s worth noting that there has never been a series that didn’t contain one of these teams, but this will be the first time they face one another for the title.

Ida (First Leg)

#4 Monterrey 2, #1 Tigres UANL 2: A thriller of a match in El Gigante de Acero. Rayadas looked tentative to start the match, and Tigres quickly took control. Things went from bad to worse for Monterrey when goalkeeper Alex Godínez made a save with her hands well outside of the box in the 12th minute and was immediately shown a red card. Down a player and forced to sub off Diana Evangelista for backup goalkeeper Claudia Lozoya, Monterrey actually settled down a bit. Tigres however went ahead in the 47th when Nancy Antonio got a header off of a corner kick. Rayadas answered in the 52nd when Christina Burkenroad beat the offside trap on a free kick and headed it in. Monterrey pulled ahead in the 71st when “La arquitecta del gol” Desirée Monsiváis blew past a defender and hit a well-placed shot to beat Ofelia Solís. But Tigres got an equalizer (and second away goal) when Stephany Mayor made a wonderful run along the end line and threaded a pass in to Blanca Solís for the tap-in. Antonio almost got her second of the game in stoppage when she smashed a rocket of a shot off of the far post, but Monterrey was able to escape with a 2-2 draw.

#3 Atlas 0, #2 Guadalajara 0: For two teams with such vaunted offenses, it was the defenses who shone brightest in this one. Both goalkeepers Blanca Félix of Chivas and Ana Gaby Paz of Atlas turned in great performances, keeping a critical clean sheet. Chivas however suffered a huge blow when Susan Bejerano came out injured in the 34th minute. It was later revealed Bejerano ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in her right leg and will miss between eight and nine months.

Vuelta (Second Leg)

#1 Tigres UANL 4, #4 Monterrey 1: As close as the first match was, this one wasn’t. Tigres took the game to Rayadas early and the visitors never recovered. In the fourth minute, Stephany Mayor put Tigres up for good when she fought off a defender and knocked a shot past Claudia Lozoya. Belén Cruz doubled the lead in the 17th minute on a wondergoal from just outside of the box. Diana Evangelista grabbed one back in the 25th when she cut through the defense and hit a perfectly placed shot. But Tigres was too much. Nancy Antonio added an insurance goal in the 50th when she beat the offside trap on a free kick and knocked one in past Lozoya, and five minutes later it was Jackie Ovalle knocking in a cross from Belén Cruz to put any doubt to rest. Tigres moves on, while Rayadas are stuck looking for answers.

#2 Guadalajara 2, #3 Atlas 1: Another hard fought match between these two rivals but Chivas was the better side on the night and advanced. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Carolina Jaromillo hit a free kick off of the crossbar and Mariam Castillo was there to knock it in to give Chivas the lead. Chivas doubled the lead off of another Jaromillo free kick in the 71st, this time headed in for an autogol by Ana García as she fought to contain Licha Cervantes. Atlas drew one back deep in stoppage when Alison González drew a penalty and converted it, but that was the last play of the match and Chivas advanced.

Notes and other things:

Teams are starting to announce player departures, and with most of the league on one-year contracts there could be a lot of free agents this summer.

Amelia Lopez gave her thoughts on the Quarterfinals in FutMexNation.

Rachael Kriger recapped the Quarterfinals for The Equalizer.

Brazil is splitting the Brasilerão Femenino into three divisions. A1 and A2 will each have 16 teams while A3 will have 32 teams.

Uruguay is in the process of getting all of their women’s clubs licensed by CONMEBOL, which will allow participation in the Copa Libertadores for teams like current champions Nacional and archrivals Peñarol.

When Barcelona Femeni won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, there were a lot of people who were surprised. To me, it seemed like a lot of “I’ve never heard of these players so they can’t be very good” energy, which I’ve been guilty of but try to avoid. Sophie Lawson and Kudzi Musarurwa were not among those who thought they didn’t stand a chance, with Lawson writing this preview of the match and Musarurwa writing an article aptly titled “It’s time to put some respect on FC Barcelona’s name”

International friendly season is right around the corner. México announced a friendly against Nadeshiko Japan in June during the halftime of the Chivas-Atlas match.

Chile will play Slovakia on June 10 and Germany on June 15.

Liguilla Finals (all times Central):

Monday, May 24:

#2 Guadalajara vs. #1 Tigres UANL - 9:00 PM - FOX Sports (Mexico), CHIVAS TV

Monday, May 31:

#1 Tigres UANL vs. #2 Guadalajara - 7:00 PM - TUDN (Mexico)