Liguilla Shockwave: Lower Seeds Seize Control in Quarterfinal Action
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The Liga MX quarterfinals are off to an electrifying start, with both Club América and Club Tijuana asserting their dominance in Leg 1. Club América hosted Toluca in an intense matchup at Estadio Azteca. Rodrigo Aguirre was the hero for Las Águilas, netting both goals in the 67th and 82nd minutes to secure a 2-0 victory. Despite Toluca commanding 65% of possession they couldn’t break through América's defense. The home team made their shots count and will now carry a comfortable two-goal lead into the second leg.
Meanwhile, over in Tijuana, Xolos capitalized on home advantage in a commanding 3-0 victory over top seed Cruz Azul. Goals from José Raúl Zúñiga, Efraín Álvarez, and Emanuel Reynoso in the first half set the tone, while Cruz Azul’s woes were compounded by Jorge Sánchez’s red card in the 34th minute. Though Cruz Azul attempted eight shots, none found the target, highlighting their struggles to penetrate Tijuana’s organized backline. With this result, Tijuana has a substantial cushion as they head into the decisive second leg.
This weekend, the action resumes with Leg 2 of the quarterfinals. Toluca will host América on Saturday afternoon, aiming for an improbable comeback against a well-drilled opponent. Later that evening, Cruz Azul will fight to overturn their three-goal deficit against Tijuana, a tall order given their Leg 1 struggles. Sunday features two exciting matchups: Cesar Huerta’s Pumas take on Monterrey, while San Luis will look to seal their advancement against Tigres, having already secured a 3-0 aggregate lead.
As always, we have the CABRA lock for this weekend’s game! Scroll down!
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América Emerges as the Team to Beat
Our previous prediction proved spot on, as we anticipated Tijuana ending Atlas’ Cinderella run and advancing to the quarterfinals. Xolos have gone above and beyond, taking a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead over Cruz Azul. While I pegged them as a dark horse at the start of the season, even I didn’t expect them to dominate a team as strong as Cruz Azul. Their performance has been impressive, but my focus now shifts to the hottest and arguably scariest team in the Liguilla: Club América.
Despite an underwhelming Apertura campaign, América is a team built for Liguilla success, thanks to their depth, experience, and strong leadership under their head coach. Their 5-4-1 formation can transform into a defensive wall, making it extremely difficult for opponents to break through. I fully expect them to defend their 2-0 lead and advance past Toluca. While Toluca has the potential for a comeback, their inefficiency in Leg 1 was glaring. Despite dominating possession with 65%, they created fewer big chances, took fewer shots, and ultimately fell short against a fiery Club América.
For América, their ability to turn on the heat in high-stakes moments makes them a team no one wants to face. As the Liguilla continues, all eyes will be on whether América can maintain their momentum and secure yet another championship run.
Compa Garrett’s Prediction: America to Advance
CABRA LOCKS OF THE WEEK - Apertura 2024
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