32 Flags is pleased to announce that we will report on the Liga MX Apertura 2015, the highest division of Mexican soccer, on a weekly basis and bring you the highlights, recaps, and scores of the week.
News Summary:
- América finally gets out of the losing column with an emphatic win over Pachuca 3-0, with two goals from Oribe Peralta.
- On the other end of the spectrum, defending champions Santos are yet to win losing again this time to Tijuana at home by a score of 1-0.
- Monarcas Morelia have really established themselves as the surprise team of the Apertura winning all three of their games, the only team to accomplished this feat, and leading the Apertura table.
- Chivas continue their slow descent into being the top relegation candidate with a tie with Tigres 2-2, and their next closest rivals, Puebla, managed a win against Pumas to further themselves away from the last spot.
- Oribe Peralta (América) and Rogelio Funes Morí (Monterrey) have broken out as Golden Boot candidates, each scoring two goals in their games respectively.
Notable games:
Dorados vs. Querétaro:
The Gallos Blancos made their way into Sinaloa to battle with Dorados, who were fresh out of their win against Xolos. The match was a defensive clash up until the last minutes as both teams had great chances to score, but neither managed to break the deadlock.
That is until the 85th minute when Roberto Nurse scored an amazing goal for Dorados, getting a foot on the ball to get it past keeper Tiago Volpi. Dorados was assured to get three points, but a defensive breakdown led to the equalizer by Miguel Martínez just two minutes after Dorados scored their goal doomed them to just one point.
An amazing game, especially near the conclusion, saw two great teams walk away with a point each, but Querétaro know they were lucky to snatch a point away from the home squad.
Puebla vs. Pumas:
Arguably the game of the week, Puebla and Pumas was filled with back and forth action as los Felinos visited los Camoteros. The action started with Fidel Martínez from Pumas scoring a beauty of a goal to give the visiting team the 1-0 lead. The scoreline looked like it was going to end with the one goal Pumas lead until Flavio Santos scored from a set piece in stoppage time to level the game.
After the break, Pumas seemed determined to get the lead back and captain Matías Britos headed in a goal from a corner in the 54th minute for the 2-1 Pumas lead. However, their joy was short lived as Luis Gabriel Rey scored just six minutes later with his own header to bring the game level again.
Then in the 82nd minute, “El Hobbit” Bermúdez scored a beauty of a goal from outside the box to bring the Puebla crowd to their feet and to give the home side a 3-2 lead. Puebla managed to hold on for the remaining 10 minutes for the win to bring them to third place.
Golazos of the Week:
Hobbit Bermudez – Puebla.
An amazing goal by Christian “Hobbit” Bermúdez as he received the ball from outside the box and just let loose a rocket from about 22 yards that Miguel Palacios had no chance on. A great goal for a man who has been missing ever since breaking through in Atlante, who is now in Ascenso MX.
[h/t: futboltotal]
Dayro Moreno – Tijuana.
I’m a sucker for goals from set pieces and this one was a beauty. Dayro Moreno perfectly rings this one off the crossbar and digs its’ way into the goal, that proved to be the game winner for Xolos.
Andre-Pierre Gignac – Tigres.
A fantastic individual effort from the Frenchman as he took on a Chivas defender, shook him loose, and calmly beat Toño Rodríguez for his first goal in Mexico.
[h/t: futboltotal]
Scores:
Veracruz – 2 (Julio César Furch 61’, Juan Ángel Albin 90’)
Chiapas – 1 (Daniel González 19’)
Santos – 0
Tijuana – 1 (Dayro Moreno 63’)
Cruz Azul – 2 (Fabio Santos 31’, Cristian “Chaco” Gimenez 50’ [p])
León – 0
Pachuca – 0
América – 3 (Darío Benedetto 22’, Oribe Peralta 78’ & 87’)
Atlas – 0
Monterrey – 3 (Rogelio Funes Morí 38’ & 40’, Edwin Cardona 46’)
Dorados – 1 (Roberto Nurse 85’)
Querétaro – 1 (Miguel Martínez 87’)
Toluca – 0
Morelia – 1 (Juan Rodríguez 59’ [p])
Pumas – 2 (Fidel Martínez 36’, Matías Britos 54’)
Puebla – 3 (Flavio Santos 45’+, Luis Gabriel Rey 61’, Christian “Hobbit” Bermúdez 82’)
Tigres – 2 (Antonio Briseño 30’, André-Pierre Gignac 44’)
Chivas – 2 (Raúl López 58’, Ricardo Vásquez 81’)
