Copa MX Final set while CCL quarters disrupted
FC Juárez was enjoying a magical 2020 until this week. The Bravos went into Monterrey on Wednesday with a 2-0 lead after the first leg of the Copa MX semifinals. Ninety minutes later, the score was all tied up, forcing a penalty kick shoot-out
The Rayados showed better nerve making 6 straight from the spot after Jonathan González missed the opener. Goalie Luis Cárdenas saved the potential winning shot with the score knotted at 4-4, then converted the next kick to put Monterrey up 5-4.
Juárez’s Francisco Nevarez tallied to make it 5-5, Charlie Rodríguez put Monterrey back up and Cárdenas made another save to send Monterrey into the Copa MX Finals where they’ll face Tijuana, a first-time finalist.
The Xolos earned a promotion to Liga MX in 2011 and won a Liga MX trophy just 16 months later, claiming the Apertura 2012 Final with a 4-1 aggregate win over Toluca.
Tijuana took advantage of the Diablos again, winning Tuesday’s second leg 4-3 at Toluca. The Xolos earned their first trip to a Copa MX Final, with a 7-3 aggregate score-line.
Meanwhile, the Concacaf Champions League was suspended partway into the quarterfinal stage. On Wednesday América toyed with Atlanta United, scoring 3 first-half goals in the first leg at Estadio Azteca. Leo Suárez and Henry Martín scored before the game was 15 minutes old, the Bruno Valdez headed home to make it 3-0.
The Aguilas coasted home the rest of the way, though several second-half scoring chances were left wanting.
Earlier, the Tigers played a rough-and-tumble match in New York against NYCFC with the Mexican side snatching a late 1-0 advantage when Edu Vargas raced in unmarked to tuck home a rebound in minute 90+2. The MLS club will have to win in “El Volcán” if they hope to advance to the CCL semifinals when that tournament resumes.