Puebla shocks Monterrey, sets up Liga MX Super Clásico

12th-seeded Camoteros knock out Monterrey in shootout

Wildcard Weekend saved its best for last as minnows Puebla shocked Monterrey to advance to the quarterfinals of the Liga MX playoffs.

The Camoteros overcame a 2-0 deficit to force penalty kicks Sunday night, then knocked out the defending champs by converting four straight from the spot.

Puebla joins Pachuca, Guadalajara and the Tigres as wildcard survivors, setting up these quarterfinals match-ups:

No. 1 León vs No. 12 Puebla

No. 2 Pumas vs. No. 9 Pachuca

No. 3 América vs No. 7 Chivas

No. 4 Cruz Azul vs. No. 6 Tigres

The fifth-seeded Rayados seemed to have clinched a spot in the “Liguilla” when Vincent Janssen thumped home a penalty shot in minute 50. Nico Sánchez had converted from the spot just before the half so Monterrey was up 2-0 and cruising … Wrong!

In minute 61, Osvaldo Martínez blasted home a free kick from 25 meters with the help of a deflection and just minutes before full time, ref Fernando Guerrero whistled a penalty against the home side. Puebla’s Santiago Ormeño equalized and the shootout commenced soon thereafter.

Puebla went first and missed, but did not miss again. Meanwhile, Nico Sánchez flubbed Monterrey’s second (firing over the bar) and Puebla keeper Nicolás Vikunis blocked the Rayados’ fourth.

Camoteros fullback George Corral stepped up for Puebla’s fifth with the 3-2 advantage and rippled the net crisply, ending the Rayados’ reign as Liga MX champs.

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Puebla’s reward is a date with the best team in Liga MX, León. Puebla hosted the Esmeraldas on Matchday 15, losing 2-1.

Earlier Sunday, the Tigres avoided the fate that visited their cross-town rivals, ensuring that at least one of the heavyweight “Regiomontano” teams remains in the hunt for the Liga MX trophy.

Tuca Ferretti’s team survived a late bid by Toluca to force a shootout, holding on for a 2-1 victory. André-Pierre Gignac scored two first-half goals to put the Tigres on Easy Street, but the No. 5 seed made it tough on themselves.

Defender Hugo Ayala scored an own goal in minute 51 then got tossed in minute 71 after earning a second yellow card and the Tigres were suddenly fighting for their lives. No. 11 seed Toluca could not find the equalizer and “Los Felinos” move on to the quarterfinals and a meeting with No. 4 Cruz Azul. The Tigres beat up the Cementeros at Estadio Azteca, winning 2-0 on Oct. 17 in a Matchday 14 contest

Liga MX Wildcard Saturday

No. 7 seed Guadalajara ended 42 long months of frustration by finally appearing in and winning a playoff game. The short-handed Chivas edged past underdog Necaxa despite dominating long stretches of the match. A Jesús Angulo goal was all the Chivas needed to advance to the “Liguilla” where América awaits.

That’s right! Liga MX fans will get treated to a “Super Clásico” in the quarterfinals. América bullied the Chivas in a 1-0 Matchday 11 win at Estadio Azteca on Sept. 19.

Earlier Saturday, visiting Pachuca was ruthlessly efficient in dispatching No. 8 Santos Laguna by a 3-0 scoreline. The ninth-seeded Tuzos will square off against No. 2 UNAM. Pachuca battled the visiting Pumas to a 1-1 draw at Estadio Hidalgo on Oct. 26 in a Matchday 15 clash.