![]() ![]() No punches were thrown though a bench player for each side was ejected. Álvaro Fidalgo ran 40 yards to shove Estrada and that prompted several rough body-checks as both dugouts cleared. ![]() ![]() Midway through the second half, Estrada roughly knocked América defender Israel Reyes to the ground and Aguilas players reacted angrily. The Aguilas – needing a win to qualify for the Copa final – pressed forward and rained crosses into Jesús Corona’s box the rest of the match but could not find the equalizer let alone the winner. Last season’s top seed in the Liga MX playoffs narrowed the gap in minute 56 behind a lovely chip from inside the box by wingback Salvador Reyes. “La Máquina Azul” scored twice in the first half (Rodolfo Rotondi finishing off a nifty solo run and Michael Estrada converting from the penalty spot just before halftime) then took their foot off the pedal and the Aguilas took advantage. (Photo by Carlos Zepeda/Jam Media/Getty Images)Ĭruz Azul survived a late América comeback bid to advance to the Copa por México final where the Cementeros will face Guadalajara who arrive with a perfect 4-0-0 record after edging past crosstown rivals Atlas. The 19-year-old midfielder is expected to play a big role for the Chivas in the upcoming Liga MX season. The match between the two Mexico City rivals brought 100,000 fans to the Estadio Azteca in pouring rain and they saw America control much of the possession despite being down to ten men, with Cruz Azul satisfied to sit back on their lead and use counter-attacks.Ī minute after Gutierrez had scored for Cruz Azul, America's Rubens Sambueza spawned a good chance to equalize when he brought down a clipped ball over the defense from Juan Carlos Medina, but couldn't direct his shot on goal from short range.Ĭruz Azul missed a golden chance to add to their lead and put the result beyond doubt when Pablo Barrera broke down the right in the 62nd, but he elected to shoot himself and missed, when centering the ball to Gutierrez would've left a tap-in.Īmerica's Christian Benitez had the best chance in extra time when he was put clean through on goal, but Jesus Corona saved.Sebastián Pérez Bouquet (right) helped Guadalajara defeat Atlas in the Clásico Tapatío Tuesday night. "Since I joined I said I wanted to be champion with this club. "I am happy because we honestly deserved it," Benitez said. We never lost faith."Īmerica coach Miguel Herrera echoed that praise of the players' commitment, saying "they are a group that kill themselves on the pitch."Įcuador international striker Christian Benitez, who had a lucrative one-season spell with Birmingham City, had his ambitions fulfilled. "We left our hearts and souls on the pitch. Munoz's goal will go down in America folklore, but the goalkeeper was eager to share the glory. Then in the third minute of stoppage time, America goalkeeper Moises Munoz went forward to contest a corner, managed to get in a diving header and Cruz Azul defender Alejandro Castro sliced his attempted clearance over his own goalkeeper and into the net.Īfter a goalless extra time, Cruz Azul's Javier Orozco and Castro both missed in the shootout and Miguel Layun netted the winner for America. Trailing 1-0 after Thursday's first leg, America's chances looked at an end when Jesus Molina was sent off in the 14th minute for bringing down a forward when he was the last defender, and then Teofilo Gutierrez scored for Cruz Azul in the 20th minute.Ĭruz Azul held that two-goal buffer until the dying stages when Aquivaldo Mosquera headed in a goal in the 89th minute. MEXICO CITY (AP) - America scored two very late goals and then beat Cruz Azul on penalties on Sunday to win Mexico's first-division league title in dramatic style. ![]()
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