The Liga MX Fútbol Frenzy – 26 games in 11 days – came to a close Sunday with a bit of a whimper. Three of the nine Matchday 6 contests over the weekend ended in scoreless draws and the nine games only produced 12 goals.
Fatigue was the watchword as Liga MX fans were likely lulled to sleep by the indifferent performances both in front of and behind the camera.
The latter reference is a nod to TV producers who caused viewers to miss three goals on Sunday night. In the América-Tijuana match, fans missed Renato Ibarra’s first goal since rejoining the Aguilas to make the score 2-0 because producers decided to show multiple slow motion replays of a penalty kick.
Necaxa’s game-winning goal –a quick restart from a free kick that caught FC Juárez players and the network producer off guard – was missed because the guys in the production booth had the wrong camera lit; and Luis Chávez’s long blast that gave Pachuca an insurmountable 2-0 lead late against Querétaro was missed because the guys in the TV booth were showing a replay from multiple angles.
This tendency to show replays during live action is a regular feature of Liga MX presentations (that, and the constant interruption by advertisements that block significant portions of the screen), a regular annoyance that demonstrates the indifference of league officials.
América lengthens lead atop Liga MX table
The Aguilas and Necaxa were the big winners of the Fútbol Frenzy as each club collected 9 points from their three matches.
América now has 16 points after 6 matches, three clear of León who saw its four-game win streak snapped after settling for a draw that was earned after a controversial late penalty call against Santos Laguna. The Esmeraldas host América on Saturday night with a chance to climb level with the Aguilas, who are on a five-game win streak.
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After three consecutive losses to open the season, Necaxa was in last place. But after three wins in the past 10 days – including Sunday’s sneaky 1-0 win over the Bravos – the Rayos have risen to 8th place. They’ll visit the hard-luck Chivas on Saturday night.
Another team to benefit from the Matchday Madness was the Tigres who posted two 3-0 wins and a draw. Those 7 points boosted the northern powerhouse into third place (11 points) after a lackluster start under new coach Miguel Herrera.
The big losers of the Frenzy were FC Juárez, Mazatlán FC and Querétaro. The three clubs each went 1-0-2, earning just a single point. Querétaro management reacted by firing coach Héctor Altamirano.
Also bungling a chance to make a move were Atlas, the Chivas, Puebla and Tijuana. These four teams went 0-2-1, collecting a measly 2 points from their three matches.
The two border teams – Tijuana and FC Juárez – are stuck in the Liga MX cellar with just 2 points, while Querétaro and Puebla sit just above them with only 3 points.