🇲🇽 América ease past Puebla into last four of 2022 Clausura | OneFootball

América advanced to the semi-finals of the Clausura with a convincing victory over Puebla on Saturday (4-3 on aggregate).

Scorers: Martín 42′, Valdés (pen) 58′, Zendejas 73′; Reyes 45+2′, Aristeguieta (pen) 90+7′

The Azulcrema dominated the opening half, and were eventually rewarded when Henry Martín powered home Álvaro Fidalgo’s clipped cross just before the interval.

But Puebla stunned the home crowd at the Estadio Azteca by equalising against the run of play in first-half stoppage time. América struggled to clear their lines, and Israel Reyes took full advantage of the situation with a superb bicycle-kick finish.

The hosts managed to regain the lead after the break, but in controversial circumstances.

A VAR review adjudged that Bruno Valdez had been pulled down in the penalty area. Diego Valdés then had his initial spot kick saved, only for VAR to rule that goalkeeper Antony Silva had been marginally ahead of his line before the shot was taken.

Valdés subsequently made no mistake with his second effort from 12 yards.

That left Puebla, who came into the tie as the lower-ranked seed, needing two goals to advance after the 1-1 draw in the first leg. And they forced América goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa into an excellent double save, with substitute Daniel Aguilar and Fernando Aristeguieta both denied by the veteran stopper.

Moments later the hosts effectively put the result beyond doubt when Valdés unselfishly played in Alejandro Zendejas to finish to an empty net.

Aristeguieta converted a penalty for Puebla in the dying seconds, but it proved little consolation for Los Camoteros.