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Clausura 2022 playoff race, Part 1: 10 spots now filled

By Thomas Buckley

América left the Tigres in the dust on Saturday, winning a sixth consecutive game to charge into the Liga MX playoffs. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)
América left the Tigres in the dust on Saturday, winning a sixth consecutive game to charge into the Liga MX playoffs. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Liga MX playoffs, Pt 1
Rafael Baca and Christian Tabó trudge off the Estadio Azteca pitch after another poor Cruz Azul performance. Despite the loss, the Cementeros have qualified for the Liga MX playoffs. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

Seven teams earned invitations to the Liga MX postseason party over the weekend, leaving two spots on the dance card to be earned on the final matchday.

América continued its charge to the upper echelons of the Liga MX table after wallowing in last place in late February/early March.

The Aguilas flew into “El Volcán” and smothered the second-place Tigres, a team pundits (including this one) were crowning champions only three weeks ago.

With the impressive 2-0 road win (if not for Tigres netminder Nahuel Guzmán, the score would have been at least 5-0), América clinched a spot in the Liga MX playoffs and if either Puebla (home to lowly Mazatlán FC) or Atlas (hosting the Tigres) stumble, “Los AzulCremas” can finish in the Top 4 and earn a first-round bye.

In pursuit of Liga MX hardware

Atlas, Cruz Azul, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Necaxa and Atlético de San Luis also secured spots in the Liga MX playoffs.

Defending champion Atlas pounded Toluca 4-2 (the Zorros’ most impressive offensive display of the season), while the Chivas and Necaxa rode late-season hot streaks to earn qualification.

Despite a wildly inconsistent season, Cruz Azul punched its playoff ticket despite a 1-0 home loss to Atlético de San Luis. The Cementeros had the final first-round bye in their grasp before the listless performance and with América looming this weekend, “La Máquina” look likely to tumble down into wildcard territory.

Guadalajara has now won three straight after firing coach Marcelo Michel Leaño, climbing from 14th place to the No. 7 spot. Necaxa’s three game win streak has been even more impressive with the last two victories coming, respectively, at third-place Puebla and against second-place Tigres.

The Chivas and the Rayos square off in the season finale at Necaxa’s Estadio Victoria in a game that will determine playoff seeding. The winner is likely to secure home-field advantage in the wildcard round.

Monterrey is stumbling into the Liga MX playoffs on a three-game winless streak (routed by first-place Pachuca on Saturday), but they did all the leg work in March, going 4-1-1 to climb into the top half of the Liga MX table. The Rayados can hold onto the No. 8 seed with a win over visiting Tijuana on Saturday but it won’t be a cakewalk. The 16th place Xolos still have an outside shot at one of the last two wildcard spots.

dark. Next. Gabriel Jesus to leave Man City

Atlético de San Luis has now reached the Liga MX playoffs for a second season in a row (they lost 2-0 at Santos Laguna in the wildcard round as No. 12 seed) and the gritty win over Cruz Azul upheld its reputation as a giant-killer. In addition to the Cementeros, the Tuneros have defeated León, Monterrey and América this season. That suggests they won’t be an easy out in the playoffs regardless of their seeding.

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