Liga MX

Récord, a Mexican daily sports newspaper, has named 18-year-old American midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez in its Torneo Apertura Best XI following a sensational breakthrough season for the California native at Monterrey.

After signing with Monterrey in 2014, Gonzalez advanced through the youth ranks before becoming a mainstay in the heart of Los Rayados’ midfield throughout the 2017 Apertura season. Monterrey finished at the top of the table in the regular season before losing in the final to Tigres.

In continuing the theme of 2017 being a sh*t year for U.S. soccer, the lone American at the Club World Cup was at fault for the goal that knocked Mexico’s Pachuca out of the competition on Tuesday at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the UAE. Gremio’s Everton turned Omar Gonzalez inside out before curling in a wonderful shot to give the Brazilian side a 1-0 victory in extra time.

Gonzalez apparently thought he was still playing for the USMNT, perhaps against Trinidad and Tobago. 

Tigres and Monterrey are in the Liga MX final. The first leg took place last night in Monterrey (Tigres were home, both teams are based in Monterrey), and, as expected, it was extremely fun.

To recap: A silly goal from a corner kick, a panenka penalty, a second-yellow sending off and then ANOTHER second-yellow sending off.

Liga MX has this charming habit of not telling folks what time their Liguilla matches are going to take place until just a few days beforehand. One of the things we like most about Liga MX is reveling in its chaos, so we can't complain too much. Good news: the 2017 Liga MX Apertura finals schedule has been finalized and updated.

Guido Rodríguez can kick. Be it the face of his opponents or the ball, the Argentinean has proven he has enough power in his right foot to make any stadium explode with joy or awe.

Earlier this season, it was former Club América star Rubens Sambueza who got savagely kicked in the face by his compatriot Guido Rodríguez.