Every once in a while it pops back into Omar Gonzalez’s head. A night of terror for all U.S. soccer players and fans.
Omar Gonzalez was on the field the night the USMNT shockingly lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago and — thanks to results elsewhere — failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. It was off his leg that the Soca Warriors scored their first goal, one of the flukiest own goals you’ll ever see.
After recording a somewhat fortunate 2-1 victory in the first leg of the 2018 Liga MX Clausura Final, there was a sense that Santos Laguna could be walking into a bear trap at La Bombonera on Sunday night.
Over 31,000 were on hand to support los Diablos Rojos, but the home crowd couldn't have been happy with the start they witnessed.
Santos Laguna defeated Toluca 2-1 in the first leg of the 2018 Liga MX Clausura Final thanks to strikes from Djaniny and Julio Furch, but Luis Quinones’ lone goal for Toluca makes for an incendiary second leg back at “La Bombonera” on Sunday.
To the Eurocentric soccer fan, the competition format for Liga MX is alien, weird and perhaps even unnatural. The Mexican soccer league has two tournaments (the Apertura and Clausura) per season, each with its own playoffs (la liguilla). Two champions are crowned each season. It’s all a bit confusing to outsiders — and even some Liga MX fans.
Why does Liga MX use the Apertura and Clausura split-season format? Forgive us if this sounds a bit cynical, but as with most things in sports, it’s mostly about money.
It’s go time. The 2018 Clausura championship begins Thursday, May 17, with Santos Laguna hosting Toluca at Estadio Corona in Torreon. That match is slated to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Univision. The return leg in Toluca kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 20. In the end, we’ll see if Toluca can capture its 11th title — and first since 2010 — or if Santos can draw level with Pachuca and Tigres on six.
Yes, it turns out, a Clásico Capitalino in the quarterfinals of the Clausura playoffs is quite lit. A 38-minute brace from Mateus Uribe and controversial penalty converted by Jeremy Menez put Club America up three at Estadio Olimpico Universitario, but a Pumas penalty, converted by Nicolas Castillo, has given life to the underdogs at halftime.
Landon Donovan’s first season in Liga MX ended on Saturday with Club Leon defeating Guadalajara 2-0 in a match between two clubs already eliminated from playoff contention. Donovan played the game’s final 15 minutes, giving him a grand total of only 112 Liga MX minutes from only six appearances in the Clausura season.
Toronto FC just finished the best Concacaf Champions League run in MLS history. They didn't win, but they came as close to winning the thing as possible. A lot of blame will fall at the feet of Michael Bradley, both because his miss was so bad aesthetically and because of the USMNT's recent failings.
Rafa Marquez means more to Atlas fans than some lesser family members. Probably.
The 39-year-old defender began his professional career at the Guadalajara club, making 77 appearances from 1996-1999. He left and played for Monaco, Barcelona, New York Red Bulls, Leon and Hellas Verona before returning home in 2016 to finish his career at Atlas.
Look how Atlas fans responded to Marquez making his final appearance at the Estadio Jalisco on Friday, in the Clasico Tapatio no less:
The Chivas vs Toronto CONCACAF Champions League final has divided soccer aficionados in Mexico. Of course every Guadalajara fan is all in for their team, and even some other Mexican soccer enthusiasts have expressed their solidarity with them.
However, not everyone in Mexico is longing for a Chivas victory.