The champion America defeated 2-1 Rayados de Monterrey and took advantage in the final of the tournament Mexican openingin which he seeks his third consecutive title. In Puebla, central Mexico, the emerging headquarters of the Águilas, Kevin Álvarez and Alex Zendejas scored for the azulcremas, while the Cantabrian Sergio Canales discounted by the Rayados of Argentine coach Matín Demichelis.
Although they lost one of their offensive spark plugs, Argentine Lucas Ocampo, to injury in the 4th minute, Monterrey repeatedly stepped on the rival area; In the 26th minute Canales shot wide and in the 35th minute he made it 0-1, with a left-footed shot from behind. América, led by Brazilian André Jardine, was patient and in the 39th minute tied with a right-footed goal from Álvarez, after a pass from Alex Zendejas.
Alejandro Zendejas (America) disputes the ball with Erick Aguirre
In the second half the Águilas went out to kill and in the 49th minute they took a 2-1 lead with a left-footed goal from Zendejas, from a pass from Spaniard Álvaro Fidalgo. Monterrey became disorganized and was harassed by an impetuous opponent who let go three clear scoring opportunities in three minutes, two of them with accurate appearances by goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas, one with a shot from outside the Uruguayan Sebastián Cáceres.
The Rayados got the ball and went ahead by goals in the last half hour of play, but it was the local team that had the best scoring opportunity, a shot with everything in favor of Fidalgo, stopped by Cárdenas, who again scored. save Monterrey, in the 88th. Demichelis’ team persisted in searching for the goal against an América that waited to punish in a counterattack that did not come.
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The second leg of the final will be played next Sunday at the Rayados stadium, who will try to take advantage of their home status to win. If it wins by one goal, Monterrey will cause a tiebreaker on penalties, if it wins by a greater margin it will win the title, but if América wins or draws on the royals’ court it will revalidate the crown.
