After four consecutive losses in a final, Club América secured their third trophy in club history after defeating Monterrey at home in front of 26,670 fans. While the Rayadas were able to take a 1-0 win at home in the first leg, the Aguilas took control of the second leg to win 3-0, 3-1 on aggregate, to make history and add their name to the list of the grandes in women’s football in Mexico.
Before the game kicked off, the league honored the legends in women’s football in Mexico. Back in 1971 Estadio
Azteca hosted the final of the women’s World Cup between Denmark and Mexico. Denmark ended up defeating Mexico 3-0, but history was made when 110,000 fans poured into the stadium to watch women’s football. While FIFA considers this tournament “unofficial,” it doesn’t take away the history that was made that proves that people do watch women’s football.
From the moment the whistle blew, América had Monterrey backed up in their own half. Whether it was Geyse, Camberos, Guerrero or Saldivar, the Aguilas were attacking on all ends and the Rayadas struggled to defend their net. They had few moments of attack up front as their passes would get disrupted in the midfield. Their passes just were not connecting. They had one big opportunity to open the score but unfortunately Valeria del Campo’s attempt just barely missed the goal. The attempt was missed on one end of the field, but that didn’t happen on the other end as the Aguilas took advantage of the goalkeeper’s mistake on the other end of the field. Nancy Antonio sent a ball into the middle of the box where both Paola Manrique and del Campo went after it but instead of clearing it they clashed and Irene Guerrero got the rebound into the back of the net to level the game on aggregate. This was Manrique’s second mistake in the box but this time the goal was counted after an earlier goal by Saldivar was called back and Monterrey were lucky, at the time, that their keeper’s mistake didn’t cost them. This time around the Aguilas did not fail and the Rayadas were more than happy for the halftime whistle so they could regroup in the locker room and change things before it was too late.
The 1-1 draw did not last long as América did not take their foot off the pedal in the second half. It only took five minutes for their hard work to pay off thanks to another Monterrey defensive error. Just like in the first goal, Antonio went up the right flank and sent a ball into the box straight towards Manrique. As the ball made its way towards the keeper, centre-back del Campo swooped in hoping to stop the ball but the sweep didn’t work as it went right passed her straight towards Manrique’s hands but the keeper was unable to hold onto the ball and the rebound landed at the feet of Geyse. The Brazilian didn’t hesitate and sent the ball into the back of the net to double the Aguilas lead and in the process she became just the second Brazilian to score in a Liga MX Femenil final behind Tigres’ own Jheniffer.
After this goal Rayadas made changes hoping these substitutes would start a spark the visitors so desperately needed. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case as the team still looked lost. Monterrey has always been a team that has picked themselves up when against a wall but today just wasn’t the case. They started creating more chances up top but could not put them away as time was running out. Then in the 80th minute things went from bad to worse for Monterrey. Geyse was at the top of the penalty area when she was kicked in the leg and the referee was called by VAR to the monitor to take a look at the play. This was her second time at the monitor and while the first call didn’t go América’s way, this second call did as the referee called the foul on Geyse handing the home side a penalty in the process. Scarlett Camberos stepped up to take the penalty and while Manrique went the right way, Camberos put a lot of power on the ball and sent it into the back of the net to go up 3-1.
With this goal Monterrey only had 10 minutes left to draw the game and send it to penalties. They had been in that exact situation before, coincidentally against the Aguilas, but this team wasn’t the same as the last one that won the championship. Head coach Amandine Miquel had turned this team around when she took over, but the team still lacked a lot. It was a big task that was asked of them that they just couldn’t finish and their opportunity to win their fifth title evaporated the moment the referee blew her whistle to end the game.
América made history by winning their third club title after a rough two year run. The trophy would just fall right out of their hands but this time they didn’t let it go. Angel Villacampa led his team to another trophy and there’s a possibility he will leave on a high note since rumors have started that he will leave Liga MX to return to Atlético de Madrid in Liga F. The Aguilas will play in the Concacaf Champions Cup in just three days so if he leaves it will have to wait another week or so. Meanwhile goalkeeper Sandra Paños has made her departure official immediately following the game. The former Barcelona goalkeeper will leave Liga MX Femenil with a title after so many failed attempts to do so beforehand. A perfect ending to her time in Mexico. While there’s a lot of other players who also have contracts ending, right now the club’s focus is on adding another title to their cabinet by winning the Concacaf Championship title and showing the region why the Mexican league is the most watched league in the world.
