by Game of the Week
Toluca 0, Guadalajara 0
After a disastrous start to the season, Toluca is starting to click, holding Chivas to a 0-0 draw. Goalkeeper Kayla Thompson kept Toluca in it, earning her first clean sheet of the season despite Chivas getting twelve shots on goal. There was a scary moment in the 20th minute when Laura Parra ran along the sidelines after a ball, lost her footing on a patch of turf, and slid into Chivas manager Juan Pablo “Pato” Alfaro. Parra was unable to return to the match and was wearing a neck brace, although she was up and walking on her own.
Of course, everyone brings their best game against Chivas (and Tigres and Rayadas), but a few weeks ago Toluca looked dead in the water. To hold Chivas, even without Licha Cervantes, to a 0-0 draw is an achievement and something to build upon.
Other scores:
Atlas 1, FC Juárez 2
Juárez continues their good run of form, downing Atlas 2-1 in Guadalajara. Miah Zuazua picked up her third goal of the season in the fourth minute of play, setting the tone of the match for Juárez. Jasmine Casarez also got her third goal of the season, getting her head onto a great ball forward from Paola González in the 42nd minute. Atlas fought back and Caro Venegas headed in a great cross in the 84th minute, but despite a strong push at the end, Atlas couldn’t find the equalizer.
Cruz Azul 1, UNAM Pumas 1
Both teams had some really good chances, but another standout game from Gabriela Machuca kept Cruz Azul in it, while Pumas’ defenses did well to limit the hosts’ chances at goal. The game went into stoppage tied at 0-0, but a mistake by Pumas goalkeeper Heidi González gave the ball to new signing Cori Sullivan, who easily knocked it in. But Pumas wasn’t done, and Chandra Eigenberger got on the end of a pass from Stephanie Ribeiro, took a touch, and hit a nice right-footed curler into the far corner of the net to salvage a draw.
The game however was marred when video later surfaced of Pumas coach Jhonathan Lazcano pushing player Natalia Macías Valadez when she came off the pitch.
Puebla 2, Necaxa 0
Puebla got their first three points of 2023 as they downed Necaxa 2-0. Elena Sainz hit a belter from 25 yards out in the 18th minute, and a colossal miscommunication in the 55th between goalkeeper Dayri Hernández and center-back Karen De León lead to Hernández attempting to clear the ball but instead knocking it off of Marisol Luna and into the back of the net.
Club Tijuana 0, Mazatlán FC 1
Mazatlán started out well and in the 14th minute got a goal from Yuliana Mora, marking their first lead of the season. It looked like Tijuana were going to draw one back just before the half, but Renae Cuéllar’s penalty was saved well by Fer Tarango, who had a great game. Tijuana had a legitimate shout for a handball in the box in the 68th minute, but it was not called. Tijuana threw everything they had at Las Cañoneras, but weren’t able to break through as Mazatlán got their first win of the season.
América 2, León 0
Two early goals from América sealed their fourth straight win as they downed León 2-0 at Coapa. Aurelie Kaci got her second goal of the season in the fifth minute on a shot from inside the box, and four minutes later Sarah Luebbert got on the end of an errant clearance, settling it with a touch and firing it into the back of the net. León settled down and played América well, but couldn’t quite break through as they’ve lost four straight after winning their season opener against Necaxa.
Tigres UANL 3, Club Atlético de San Luis 1
San Luis actually took the lead early on an uncharacteristically poor defensive play by Tigres that allowed Itzia Tenahua to corral a loose ball in the box and knock one past Ceci Santiago in the 27th minute. Tigres equalized after the half on a well-executed free kick from Liliana Mercado, who hit Mia Fishel in the box with “Big Fish” heading the ball back against the grain into the net. Tigres took the lead in the 71st minute when Jackie Ovalle hit a cross into the box that Maricarmen Reyes put on net. It looked like Karen Cano was going to clear it off of the line, but instead hit it into her own net. Stephany Mayor added one more in stoppage time, ripping a Michel Ruíz cross into the back of the net on a volley.
Pachuca 6, Santos Laguna 0
Pachuca return to their winning ways, dominating Santos 6-0. Alice Soto put the hosts up in the second minute after Santos failed to clear the ball out of their own end. Charlyn Corral then took over, getting her second hat trick of the season. In the 27th minute, she got a pass from Mónica Ocampo in the box, drove in, and ripped one into the back of the net. In the 70th minute, she was in the right place at the right time to clean up a rebound from a Lizbeth Ángeles shot that rang off of the crossbar. Then six minutes later she connected with Ángeles again, this time getting a pass off of a free kick straight off of the training ground and knocking it in. Mariana Munguia got a nice ball into the box and got Pachuca’s fifth goal of the evening in the 89th minute, and then Jenni Hermoso converted a penalty in stoppage to complete the rout.
Rayadas de Monterrey 1, Gallos Blancos de Querétaro 0
Querétaro’s defense stood strong but were undone by a fluky autogol in the 57th minute. Alejandra Calderón went down the right flank and crossed the ball in on goal from the end line. Marta Alemany bobbled the save, and Jazmín Enrigue tried to clear it but instead sent it into the back of the net. Rayadas had an opportunity to extend the lead in the 75th minute, but Nicole Pérez missed a penalty kick wide to her right. Querétaro kept it interesting, but couldn’t find the equalizer and now find themselves in eleventh place going into Week 6.
