San Luis Shines, Semifinal Drama Builds
Picks, Memes, and more! >>
The Quarterfinals delivered some unexpected outcomes as teams battled for a spot in the semifinals. San Luis stunned Tigres with a dominant 3-0 aggregate win, showcasing their defensive solidity. Monterrey edged past Pumas UNAM in a high-scoring affair, winning 6-3 on aggregate thanks to their potent offense across both legs. Club América made light work of Toluca, cruising to a 4-0 aggregate victory with their defensive stability and attacking precision. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul overcame Club Tijuana in dramatic fashion, advancing on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate score, something that I did not see coming.
San Luis continues their incredible run after upsetting Tigres, this time securing a crucial 2-1 home victory over Monterrey on Wednesday. Léo Bonatini and Ricardo Chávez delivered standout performances, scoring in the 30th and 80th minutes, respectively, to give San Luis the edge. Despite Germán Berterame pulling one back for Monterrey, the Rayados managed just one shot on target, a testament to San Luis’s tactical discipline and control, reflected in their 55% possession.
Meanwhile, Club América and Cruz Azul battled to a tense 0-0 draw in the other semifinal first leg. Cruz Azul dominated possession with 66%, but their efforts lacked creativity, leaving América relatively unthreatened throughout. While both teams showed defensive solidity, neither side managed to produce any clear danger, setting up a fire second leg I suspect!
The second legs this weekend promise high drama as the stakes escalate. Monterrey hosts San Luis on Saturday, aiming to overturn their 2-1 deficit with home support and sharper offensive execution. On Sunday in the Cruz Azul and America match, with a 0-0 aggregate, a single mistake could decide the tie, placing immense pressure on both sides. Tactical adjustments, set pieces, and goalkeeping will be pivotal in determining who advances.
As always, we have the CABRA lock for this weekend’s game! Scroll down!
ANY OF THESE TEAMS CAN BE CHAMPIONS...
WATCH:
Monterrey vs San Luis
Saturday, 6 pm PST
How San Luis is Shaping Their Liguilla Story
I’ll admit it—I didn’t expect San Luis to be here. But looking back, I’m not sure why. They’ve been nothing short of impressive all season, finishing with the third-most goals heading into the Liguilla. Despite their strong performance, they’ve been overshadowed in the media by bigger clubs, but that narrative could shift dramatically as they hold a 2-1 lead over Rayados. I’ve been especially impressed with their goalkeeper, Andrés Sánchez, who made an incredible 17 saves during the quarterfinals. Having Ricardo Chávez in the backline alongside him seems to have given Sánchez the freedom and confidence to shine.
San Luis also has the advantage of being the underdog, playing with nothing to lose. Expectations were low for them, but they’ve used that to fuel their momentum. In the first leg against Monterrey, San Luis didn’t just sit back and defend—they outworked the Rayados, creating more scoring opportunities and registering more shots. I fully expect them to bring that same intensity in the second leg, challenging Monterrey from the opening whistle. And when the game inevitably requires them to defend, I trust their solid backline and Sánchez to hold the fort.
Compa Garrett’s Prediction: San Luis to Advance
CABRA LOCKS OF THE WEEK - Apertura 2024
THE COMPAS COMMUNITY IS LIVE ON DISCORD!
Thanks for reading Café Asada - by CABRA Sports! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Let us know your picks on our socials and make sure you’re following CABRA FUTBOL, FUTBOL ASADA, and if you’re into NFL, check out our CABRA ENDZONE accounts.
CABRA FUTBOL
FUTBOL ASADA
CABRA ENDZONE