Club América salvage a point on the road against Monterrey

Club América made a comeback against Monterrey as they came back from two goals late in the second half. Rayados had everything to win the game but they decided to spend 45 minutes defending and it not only cost them the game but also first place. The Aguilas will now regroup with only a few days to rest as they play Wednesday while Rayados will play Toluca on Wednesday night. 

In the first minute of the game Spaniard Sergio Ramos attempted to get the action going for his team when he sent a long ball into América’s box looking for Sergio Canales but Luis Angel Malagon collected the ball first. The Aguilas spent the first few minutes attempting to move forward but they were stopped at every chance by the Rayados as they were positioned very well. This forced them multiple times in the first 10 minutes to move the ball all the way back to Malagon to restart. Then in the 12th minute it looked like América were going to be given a big break when Raul Zuñiga went down in the box. The player had made his way into the box where Victor Guzman had trouble containing him and stepped on Zuñiga’s foot. Unfortunately the referee did not point at the spot because the azulcrema player was offside to begin with. Rayados’ constant pressure early on paid off in the 17th minute.

Monterrey were awarded a corner kick after a save from Dagoberto Espinoza. Canales stepped up to take the corner where he sent it into the box. The ball found Lucas Ocampos’ head who sent it towards goal but Malagon punched the ball out where Fidel Ambriz got the rebound and sent it flying into the back of the net to open the score. 

The Aguilas tried to equalize immediately but found themselves locked up defensively. They were given a chance in the 19th minute when they won a corner. Allan Saint-Maximin took the corner short with Alexis Gutierrez who sent  the ball into the area where Israel Reyes waited for it but the ball was headed out of danger before it got to him. Then in the 22nd minute bad news for the Aguilas after Espinoza went down on a no-contact play. He was running after Gerardo Arteaga and as he did so he stepped wrong and went down to the ground holding his left knee. The cart was called as it was obvious he could not continue. Any news on the players’ condition has not been shared but it seems like it’s likely the dreaded ACL injury. Youngster Kevin Alvarez was subbed in. By the 30th minute the Aguilas looked frustrated because they were unable to pose any threats up top. They attempted to go up the middle but were unable to do so. Rayados had a big opportunity in the 31st minute to double the lead when Chavez made his way up the right flank and sent a cross towards the middle of the box where Canales was waiting. All Canales had to do was tap the ball in but somehow the ball went to the far right and just like that a huge opportunity was lost. While he couldn’t score at that moment, another one came right before the half.

The Aguilas lost the ball in the middle of the field where Ocampos sent a through ball straight to Canales who chipped it past Malagon to double their lead. This was not the way América wanted the first half to go and were more than happy for halftime so they could regroup for the second half. Meanwhile Monterrey were ecstatic with the score but they were going to have to play smart the remaining 45 minutes if they wanted to keep the win and remain at the top of the table. 

Alejandro Zendejas had the first chance of the second half after he went up the right side of the field but he was dispossessed by two Monterrey players before he was able to take a shot. Four minutes later he had another chance as he made his way inside the box where he got a shot off but Santiago Mele was able to collect the ball. In the 52nd minute América had a chance at goal when they were awarded a corner that Zendejas sent into the box where Ramon Juárez headed the ball towards the net but Mele punched it up and out for another corner. On this corner Allan Saint-Maximin had the ball at his feet at the corner of the box where he sent it towards the net but Mele collected the ball. Minutes later Maximin made his way into the box again and fell to the ground asking for a penalty. The referee did not blow his whistle since Maximin ran into the Monterrey defender and fell to the ground. A minute later the hosts were given a big chance at goal after Ricardo Chavez was fouled by Alexis Gutierrez who missed the ball and knocked Chavez to the ground. Sergio Canales took the free kick but before the ball could hit the near post, Raul Zuñiga headed the ball out of danger. Two minutes later German Berterame took a shot at goal but Luis Angel Malagon easily collected the shot. In the 70th minute the Aguilas had another chance at goal after Maximin sent the ball to the other side of the field where Kevin Alvarez shot the ball at goal the moment the ball landed at his feet but Mele swatted the ball out right at the line. Minutes later Rodrigo Aguirre was in the middle of the box waiting for a ball from Zendejas but Victor Guzman was there to head the ball out of Aguirre’s path. Up to this point the Aguilas were insistent in front of goal and it finally paid off in the 82nd minute.

Brian Rodriguez was on the left flank where he was able to get past Chavez and made his way into the box. He could have scored from there but he decided to pass the ball to Aguirre on the right side where all the Uruguayan had to do was shoot the ball forward and he did just that. The Aguilas now had eight minutes left to equalize to salvage a point and that’s just what they did seven minutes later.

The Aguilas were awarded a corner which Zendejas took. He played the ball into the box where Ramon Juárez jumped in the air to beat Sergio Ramos and head the ball into the net to draw the game. Not even Mele was expecting that. This goal was not a surprise and it was coming as the visitors had attacked the goal non-stop in the second half. Monterrey had stopped attacking since they were up by two goals and they rightfully swallowed the two goals. After the goal Frenchman Anthony Martial was subbed in and had two big chances to score in his debut. The first one ended with a whistle after he was called for a foul at the corner of the box. The second time was a controversial call as he was called for another foul that was not a foul on the left side of the field. He only played five minutes yet he had two big chances in front of goal so there will be no doubt he will play a big role for Rayados in games to come. In stoppage time, the Aguilas attempted to score a goal to take the lead but the Rayados defense was there to stop any chances before the referee blew his whistle to indicate the end of the match. Monterrey will definitely look back at this game as a loss even though it was recorded as a draw. They won the first half but it was the second half that killed them. América were down by two goals in the second half but never did they stop moving forward looking for two goals. Their determination helped them salvage a point that looked almost all but gone. 

Monterrey had it all to win but they let themselves go in the second half and allowed Club América to make a comeback in the span of seven minutes. While the Aguilas were able to salvage a point, there’s still many questions that need to be answered. Specifically from André Jardine who has made some very questionable calls with the lineups. Maybe after last night the answers will be clear but if he does not pay attention then it might be a rough Apertura for the team.