Defensive struggles torment Liga MX favorite América
After fast start, Aguilas suddenly scrambling for answers
(América kicked off a four-games-in-15-days stretch Saturday night with a 2-1 win over Atlético de San Luis.)
América was in first place only a week ago and is still only three spots back of top spot, but coach Miguel Herrera is on a very hot seat nonetheless.
“El Piojo” has been hearing it from critics ever since the Aguilas were bounced from the preseason Copa GNP in July after conceding 4 goals in back-to-back “Clásicos.”
Cruz Azul spanked América 4-1 in the final group-stage match, knocking the Aguilas into second place and forcing a semifinal match-up with the Chivas. Guadalajara won the “Super Clásico” 4-3, setting off alarm bells in Coapa.
The Aguilas quickly shook off the disappointing losses and opened the Guardianes 2020 on the right foot, defeating Pachuca and destroying Tijuana to move atop the table.
Matchday 3 produced a humbling 1-1 draw at Necaxa that should have served as a warning, but América returned six days later to dominate Santos 3-1. The “Azulcremas” were comfortably in first place and led Liga MX in scoring with 10 goals in four games. “El Piojo” was basking in glory again.
And then the Aguilas lost their mojo.
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With the score tied 1-1 against Querétaro, midfielder Richard Sánchez lost his cool and was ejected just before the half with his team down 1-0.
América stayed in the fight for a while as Sebastián Córdova took a nice drop pass from Federico Viñas inside the box and blasted a right-footer to equalize in minute 58. But the Gallos Blancos ran rampant after that, scoring twice in the next 10 minutes before adding another in injury time to claim a 4-1 win.
Things only got worse the next game against Monterrey as defensive linchpin Bruno Valdez was carted off with a serious knee injury only 22 minutes into the match. The Rayados scored twice in the next 12 minutes to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Early in the second half, América began to exert some pressure on the Rayados defense when Roger Martínez lost his cool. The winger was shown a red card after a reckless foul in midfield just after the hour mark and that was basically all she wrote. Monterrey was able to see out the 3-1 victory and América tumbled out of first place.
Before the final whistle, social media was awash with calls for Herrera to be fired.