No surprise, Matchday 6 results befuddle oddsmakers

We’re just past the one-third mark in the Liga MX season and results continue to surprise.

Puebla shut out Monterrey and Pachuca shocked América in Estadio Azteca, while title contenders Tigres and León scraped out wins at home against lesser competition.

If the Liga MX season were to end right now, Monterrey and América would not be in the playoff picture. That’s the biggest and the third-highest payroll, respectively, in the league.

Instead, Puebla and Pachuca would be the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, while minnows FC Juárez, Necaxa and Querétaro would be wildcards.

Of course, logic tells us that cream will rise to the top, but Liga MX does not always remain logical.

Matchday 6 results keep Liga MX table topsy turvy

Puebla remains top of the standings (14 points) for the fourth consecutive week as Nicolás Larcamón has the Camoteros playing virtually error-free football. It’s not jogo bonito, but it is rather effective.

Most impressively, “La Franja” has not built its early-season success via an easy schedule. Puebla has defeated the Tigres on the road (0-2), blanked Monterrey (1-0) and played América and Atlas to 1-1 draws (both at home).

A visit to struggling Guadalajara is on tap for Saturday and the Camoteros’ next big test is at Cruz Azul on March 5.

Cruz Azul sits just one point back of Puebla in third place with a 4-1-1 record. After last week’s late-game collapse against Necaxa, Cementeros fans could be forgiven for watching nervously as “La Máquina” attempted to protect a 2-1 lead at Toluca. Their fears were all for naught, however, as Santi Giménez scored twice within 5 minutes of subbing in and Cruz Azul coasted home with a big road win.

Tigres toyed with the sentiments of their fans as they trailed lowly Atlético de San Luis 1-0 late in the second half after defender Igor Lichnovsky scored into his own net. But sub Carlos González and perennial Liga MX All-Star André-Pierre Gignac banged home goals to earn a 2-1 win, the club’s fourth consecutive victory to remain in fourth place.

Last season’s losing finalist, León, overcame a scare from struggling Guadalajara. The Esmeraldas took an early lead behind Víctor Dávila on a horrendous Chivas giveaway and seemed likely to extend their advantage before halftime.

The second half was a different story, however, as the hosts could not string together passes and Chivas were finding time and space to blast shots at Rodolfo Cota who came up with three big saves to protect the León lead.

A defensive lapse allowed “Chicote” Calderón to equalize in minute 81 and Guadalajara pressed forward for the win. Then defender Osvi Rodríguez came to the rescue, joining a rush in stoppage time, bringing down a pass in the box and slotting home from close range. The win was just León’s second of the season, but it boosted the Green Machine into eighth place.

At the other end of the spectrum, América continues its dreadful form. After a 0-1-2 week, the Aguilas are in 16th place, already with twice as many losses (4) as all of last season when they snared the No. 1 seed for the Liga MX playoffs.

Despite an ultimatum issued by ownership, coach Santi Solari remains on the job, but patience is wearing thin for the Liga MX’s most successful team. The club’s descent started with the 3-1 home loss to cross-town rivals UNAM in the quarterfinals last season. And as luck would have it, the Pumas are next on América’s schedule. Another loss might be all she wrote for the former Real Madrid man.

UNAM is coming off a hard-fought scoreless draw against reigning Liga MX champs Atlas. The double donut has the two clubs in fifth (Atlas) and sixth place (UNAM).

Matchday 7 kicks off on Thursday night with second-place Pachuca hosting Mazatlán FC. The Tuzos are led by Nico Ibáñez, the top scorer in Liga MX (5 goals) while Mazatlán has lost all three road games this season.