Pace-setters in Liga MX C.F. Monterrey, Cruz Azul, and Pachuca triumphed this past weekend, all three finished tied at 22 points, with the Rayados leading the standings with a commanding +13 goal differential.
On Sunday, the Northern Giants easily defeated UNAM 3-0, with Brandon Vázquez scoring the first goal in the 52nd minute. Thirty minutes later, Sergio Canales scored his team-leading fifth goal, and in minute 89, Gerardo Arteaga—his first since joining Liga MX this season—completed the rout.
Cruz Azul was exactly like C.F. Monterrey the day before, scoring all three of its goals in the first half of a 3-0 thumping of Guadalajara. In the seventh minute, Lorenzo Faravelli scored his first Liga MX goal after joining the Cementeros from Ecuador’s Independiente. Former Chivas winger Uriel Antuna, who was jeered by the loud Guadalajara supporters the entire game, provided a brace (27′ and 33′), and that was that.
In Pachuca, the Tuzos defeated the FC Juárez Bravos, who were without a win, 3-2 after scoring three goals in a nine-minute span on Saturday to overcome a 1-0 deficit. Salomón Rondón (82′), Nelson Deossa (75′), and Erick Sánchez (73′) were the standout players for Pachuca, the Liga MX team with the most goals scored (24 goals in 10 games).
Champions give notice that they won’t give up their title easily. América, the current champions, also declared their determination to retain the title on Saturday, defeating 10-man Atlas 5-1 to get to 21 points. The host Zorros took the lead early on, and in minute 17, goalie Camilo Vargas stopped a penalty attempt from Henry Martín, but everything went south after that.
In the Saturday matinee, Toluca defeated Tigres 2-1 in a tense match to maintain its perfect home record (5-0-0). Tiago Volpi, the goaltender for Diablos Rojos, scored the game-winning penalty. For Toluca, the Brazilian goalie is currently 11 for 11 on PKs.
The Diablos Rojos (19 points) moved up to fifth place with this outcome, surpassing “los felinos” (18 points).
Elsewhere in Liga MX
Tijuana defeated León at home late on Sunday, utilizing a stoppage-time penalty to their advantage. But manager Miguel Herrera’s position is in jeopardy because the Xolos are still without a victory.
The Esmeraldas, for their part, are still stuttering, and it hurts to concede points so late in a game. To make matters even worse, José Alvarado missed an opportunity to steal the win in minute 90+12, sending the ball striking goaltender Antonio Rodríguez in the gloves.
Just before the hour mark, Federico Viñas gave “La Fiera” the lead with his team-leading fifth goal of the season, smashing a shot home with his reliable left boot.
On Friday night, Matchday 10 got underway with a tripleheader focused on breaking streaks.
With a first-half red card that gave the Cañoneros possession dominance (75% on the night), Mazatlán FC handed visiting Necaxa its first loss of the season. Following their season-ending finish at the bottom of Liga MX, the Rayos started the Clausura 2024 with a 3-6-0 record until suffering a 2-1 loss against El Encanto.
Atlético de San Luis defeated Puebla 4-0 to snap their seven-game losing streak earlier on Friday. Meanwhile, Santos Laguna defeated the Gallos Blancos 4–0 with their second straight victory at Querétaro.
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