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Olympic qualification over, Liga MX set to return

By Thomas Buckley

Johan Vasquez (#5) is mobbed by teammates after scoring Mexico's second goal during the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Semifinal match against Canada. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Johan Vasquez (#5) is mobbed by teammates after scoring Mexico's second goal during the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Semifinal match against Canada. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Rodríguez watches as his shot curls into the net past Atlas keeper Camilo Vargas during Cruz Azul’s 3-2 win on March 20. (Photo by CLAUDIO CRUZ/AFP via Getty Images) /

Top clubs look to continue good form

The Liga MX season picks back up after the FIFA break on Friday with a Matchday 13 double-header: Mazatlán FC at Puebla followed by Cruz Azul at FC Juárez.

League-leading Cruz Azul visits the Bravos aiming to extend their win streak to 11 in their final game away from Estadio Azteca.

The Cementeros tied the franchise record of 10 straight wins with a 3-2 triumph over Atlas, ending the Zorros 7-game unbeaten streak in the process. A goal by Atlas defender Anderson Santamaría in minute 38 ended the Cementeros’ goalless streak at 442 minutes, just a dozen short of the franchise record.

Second-place América hosts lowly Necaxa on Saturday eager to keep pace with Cruz Azul. The Aguilas pushed their own win streak to 5 with a hard-fought 1-0 road win at Mazatlán FC.

The two Mexico City giants are careening toward a mammoth Week 14 showdown on that could decide who ends up with the No. 1 seed for the Liguilla. Both clubs will be doubling up until that April 17 Estadio Azteca clash since they each have two midweek Concacaf Champions League matches on their calendars.

The other Mexico City club sits at the other end of the table. Last-season’s losing Liga MX Finalist finally recorded its first road win of the season (now 1-2-4 away from home), but the Pumas got considerable help from the officials. Three times ref Marco Antonio Ortiz annulled an apparent San Luis goal. Yep! Three times.

To further stack the deck, San Luis midfielder Felipe Gallegos was red-carded just before halftime and then UNAM’s game-winning goal came as a result of a penalty in the game’s final 10 minutes. So, ref Ortiz was directly involved in 4 goal-related decisions. The Tuneros are furious, especially as video replay shows the “goal” scored in minute 6 was clearly not offside nor was a foul committed, but video replay officials either did not alert Ortiz or the pitch referee declined to confirm his call by going to the monitor.

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