Pumas-León: Cat fight for Liga MX supremacy

Matchday 11 starts off dull, then gets weird

Necaxa lost its fifth straight game and didn’t do much against Puebla Friday night to halt the losing streak. The Rayos will remain in the cellar and are a strong candidate to be relegated after the Clausura 2021. Oh, that’s right. Liga MX canceled relegation for the next three years.

Lucky Necaxa. If the modest Aguascalientes-based team continues to play with such disinterest, ownership will instead have to cough up 120 million pesos as a penalty for finishing last. Demotion almost seems like a lesser hardship.

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On the receiving end of Necaxa’s diffidence was Puebla. A first-half goal by Omar Fernández was enough for the Camoteros to end their own 3-game skid.

In Mazatlán, Cruz Azul’s teen striker Santi Giménez celebrated his first call-up to El Tri with a nifty first-half goal to cancel out the home team’s 1st-minute score.

The Cementeros went on to win 3-2, but not without controversy. With the score tied 1-1, a VAR-assisted penalty call was followed by weirdness. Jonathan Rodríguez slipped on the PK, doinking the right-footed shot of his left ankle. The ball fluttered into the net as Mazatlán players screamed about the violation. But the goal was confirmed.

Lots of confusion ensued and we’ll have to wait on Liga MX officials to explain the ruling … or apologize for it. My best guess? The only way it makes sense is that if such a violation is not eligible for VAR review and could only be called if the ref saw it.

With the way “Cabecita” slipped and fell as he took the spot kick, it’s easy to understand that the ref may not have seen the double-kick. Video evidence was clear, but the ref did not go to the video screen.

The game was delayed as Mazatlán player refused to restart play. As if that weren’t enough, another penalty was whistled and “Cabecita” converted again for a 3-1 lead. The hosts narrowed the final deficit in injury time with a penalty kick of their own.

Once the dust settled, Cruz Azul comes away with a road win and can bask at the top of the Liga MX table until Monday night’s clash in León.

Aguilas get good news ahead of ‘Super Clásico’

América seems set to have forwards Federico Viñas (knee) and Roger Martínez (ankle) available for the Super Clásico as both were given the all-clear to return to training. The pair limped out of last week’s Toluca game.

If Viñas is deemed fully fit, he’ll start. The 22-year-old Uruguayan has been the focal point of the Aguilas attack and he is co-top scorer (5 goals) along with strike partner Henry Martín. Martínez was always expected to serve as a sub so coach Miguel Herrera hopes the Colombian speedster can give him 20-25 minutes if called upon.

Their rivals also are getting healthy. Guadalajara’s enigmatic playmaker Jesús “Chofis” López was cleared to return to the pitch. He’d be a good choice to send on as a late sub. Third-choice striker Angel Zaldívar is also back from sick bay.