With a disadvantage on the global scoreboard, the Rayados del Monterrey This Sunday they will seek to come back against the Águilas del América at the BBVA stadium in the second leg of the final of the Apertura 2024 tournament of the MX League.
On Thursday night in the first leg played at the Cuauhtémoc stadium in Puebla, the América of Brazilian coach André Jardine came from behind to beat Monterrey of Argentine coach Martín Demichelis 2-1.
The decisive game will begin at 7:00 p.m. local time (01:00 GMT on Monday). In the event of any overall tie, extra time would be played and if the tie persisted, penalty shootouts would be awarded.
For the three-time championship
In the third tournament under the command of André Jardinehe America seeks to become the first three-time champion of the short Aztec football tournaments -established in 1996-, and confirm themselves as a team of the era.
In this dynasty of América, 13 players are seeking to win the triple crown, among them the Uruguayans Sebastián Cáceres and Brian Rodríguez, as well as the Paraguayan Richard Sánchez and the Chilean Diego Valdés.
Unlike the two previous finals that were resolved at home at the Azteca stadium, this time América will close the final as a visitor.
“It is the first time that we are going to decide outside, it is different. In any circumstance, the series is open. We have to concentrate. In the second game we must be consistent because, possibly, the final will be decided in the last moments. Whoever is more intelligent and has mental strength will be close to succeeding“Jardine commented.
América is seeking the 20th league title in its history, the most recent being Apertura-2023 and Clausura-2024.
Optimism in the face of adversity
For his part, the Monterrey seeks its sixth championship. The first five – all in the professional stage – were achieved in the México-1986, Clausura-2003, Apertura-2009, Apertura-2010 and Apertura-2019 tournaments (the latter against América).
Despite arriving at a disadvantage and the fact that Argentine winger Lucas Ocampos is practically ruled out due to injury, coach Demichelis said he was “the first of the optimists, we have a great opportunity to be champion, we are going to have the support of our people and we will to compete very well”.
Demichelis sent a challenge to his Americanist colleague: “America is the two-time champion, and Jardine will play in the third final; in this group they beat Toluca and Cruz Azul, but we are going to be a very efficient Rayados, we are going to leave everything on the field “, 90 minutes or 120, so that the cup stays in Monterrey.”
