Liga MX quarterfinals: Dubious calls mar openers

Guerreros out to flip script on Rayados

Santos got off to a quick start (3-3-0) before injuries slowed the Guerreros’ progress.

Long-term injuries to playmaker Diego Valdés and midfield dynamo Fernando Gorriarán paved the way for youngsters such as Jesús Ocejo, Santi Muñoz and Eduardo Aguirre to step up, and step up they eventually did, but there were growing pains.

With Valdés and “Gorri” back in the line-up, coach Guillermo Almada can apply the pressing defense he favors because he has confidence in the subs he needs to chase opponents for 90 minutes.

Goalie Carlos Acevedo is a very reliable netminder and Brazilian defender Dória leads a stead defense. Fullbacks Carlos Orrantia and Omar Campos will be called upon to slow down the Monterrey offense which loves to attack down the flanks.

Gorriarán and line-mate Alan Cervantes will be key to Santos’ prospects as they will be tasked with leading the press and shutting down any Monterrey moves through midfield.

As for the Rayados, they also stumbled after a fast start (opening 3-1-0 followed by a three-game winless streak), then nearly squandered the first-round bye they appeared to have clinched in early April with a late-season slump (three losses in a row).

Still, with the biggest payroll in Liga MX, there’s no doubting the talent at Javier Aguirre’s disposal. But not all is cookies and cream in “The Sultana del Norte.”

It seems that Monterrey’s goleador Rogelio Funes Mori has fallen out of favor with coach Javier Aguirre. On Tuesday, Funes Mori – the Rayados’ all-time leading scorer with 122 career goals (tied with Humberto “Chupete” Suazo) – was training with the back-ups.

“El Mellizo” has come off the bench in each of the Monterrey’s past three games and there has been no report of injury or rehab. Instead, coach Aguirre has selected Vincent Janssen as his lone striker with two wingers accompanying him in attack.

Even without Funes Mori from the opening whistle, the Rayados have plenty of firepower with Aké Loba, Maxi Meza, Avilés Hurtado and Dorlan Pabón available. The key for Monterrey might be how midfielders Carlos Rodríguez, “Ponchito” González and Celso Ortiz handle the Santos pressure.

Monterrey has ended Santos’ season the past two times these northern clubs have met in the Liguilla, most recently in the Apertura 2019 season that saw the Rayados go on to hoist the Liga MX trophy. That confrontation also came in the quarterfinals and it pitted the top-seeded Guerreros against No. 8 Monterrey, but the Rayados made quick work of the favored “Laguneros” by winning the first leg at home 5-2.

Santos defeated the visiting Rayados back on Matchday 6 thanks to a second-half goal by defender Dória.