It turns out, beating MLS clubs is a lot easier than beating continental champions. Chivas Guadalajara learned that the hard way this week at the Club World Cup.
While Club América was back home in Mexico winning an unprecedented 13th Liga MX title, breaking a tie with Chivas for most all time, Guadalajara was in the UAE, getting beaten by teams from Asia and Africa.
It is settled: Club América is the best team in all Liga MX history. Beating Cruz Azul in a very level final on Sunday, Las Águilas claimed their 13th Liga MX title.
In doing so, Miguel Herrera's side surpassed Chivas Guadalajara, which has won the championship 12 times.
The Cruz Azul curse continues. After being repelled by a combination of Club América goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín and the crossbar in the first leg, a poor piece of attempting to play out the back ultimately doomed Cruz Azul in the second — the ever impressive Edson Álvarez punished the slack play with a curling effort from the top of the box, and then the El Tri star registered a second at the death to confirm América’s 13th title.
Cruz Azul failed to land a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Nursing a 1-0 lead in the Liga MX final, Club América goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín knew what he had to do. After a sensational run by 20-year-old Cruz Azul midfielder Roberto Alvarado, the ball ended at the feet of Édgar Méndez.
Marchesín rushed out and took the ball off the feet of Méndez before he could get a shot off and potentially equalize in the 59th minute, and then the 30-year-old Argentine goalkeeper let Méndez have an earful. Referee Cesar Ramos rushed forward to separate the two, but in doing so, he gently touched the arm of Marchesín.
Chivas Guadalajara got off to a dream start at the Club World Cup on Saturday.
Then it all fell apart. And with it, perhaps Mexico’s best chance to win the Club World Cup.
Asian champion Kashima Antlers rallied from an early deficit and held off a late charge to defeat Chivas 3-2 in the Club World Cup on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Kashima will now play Real Madrid in the semifinals on Wednesday.
It's going to happen: A Club América vs. Cruz Azul Liga MX final will kiss 2018 goodbye. La Máquina beat Monterrey, and Las Águilas destroyed Pumas in the semifinals last weekend, thus securing the high-voltage final most soccer enthusiasts in Mexico were looking forward to.
Diego Maradona’s attempt to lift the 2018 Ascenso MX Apertura title with Dorados fell agonizingly short on Sunday night after Atlético San Luis triumphed 4-3 on aggregate after extra time.
Dorados won the first leg 1-0 back on Nov. 29, but Maradona was ultimately sent off during the game for threatening San Luis manager Alfonso Sosa with a clenched fist.
Diego Maradona walks off in style after being sent off in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/1RvvxnwaIP
If you’re looking for a reason to watch the Liga MX playoffs, you must’ve missed the 2018 Clausura tournament. The 13 matches of the liguilla yielded 47 goals (an average of 3.62 per game), and it really was that fun from start to Santos Laguna’s triumphant finish. So if you’re looking for a way to jettison the 0-0 draw between Sporting Kansas City and Portland from your brain, check out the "Liga MX TV Schedule: Apertura Playoffs 2018" below, along with some team information and key players to watch.
Major League Soccer is losing another of its best coaches to Mexico.
Earlier this week, Atlanta United’s Tata Martino reportedly agreed to a four-year contract to coach the Mexico national team. Now, FC Dallas’ Óscar Pareja is leaving the states for Liga MX side Club Tijuana, according to reports from Ives Galarcep.
Next Monday, the Los Angeles Rams are set to “host” the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL game at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. However, the league is reportedly looking into moving the game back to LA because the field, quite frankly, looks like a case of hellfire diarrhea.
Last May, the legendary stadium switched its pitch from natural grass to a hybrid surface, but with both Club America and Cruz Azul utilizing the Azteca, the grass has been a constant source of anxiety over the last few months.