🇲🇽 América exit Apertura at semi-final stage after Toluca hold firm | OneFootball

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Seamus Leonard·23 October 2022

🇲🇽 América exit Apertura at semi-final stage after Toluca hold firm

Article image:🇲🇽 América exit Apertura at semi-final stage after Toluca hold firm

América’s season came to a disappointing end on Saturday as they lost their Liguilla semi-final to Toluca 3-2 on aggregate.

Scorers: Zendejas 35′; Torres Nilo 29′


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Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, América started on the front foot at the Estadio Azteca as they dominated the early proceedings.

But the Azulcrema failed to make the most of their superiority and fell further behind just before the half-hour mark when Toluca defender Jorge Torres Nilo got on the end of a corner to chest home from close range.

The hosts responded brilliantly to that setback, however, and quickly levelled the game on the night.

A deflected cross from left-back Luis Fuentes looped to the back post and Alejandro Zendejas rose highest to power home a header from close range.

Brian Rodríguez had a golden opportunity to bring the tie level on aggregate early in the second half, but the América winger skewed his effort wide after being put through on goal.

And it then took a superb save from Toluca stopper Tiago Volpi to deny Álvaro Fidalgo from scoring with a bullet header from eight yards out.

Article image:🇲🇽 América exit Apertura at semi-final stage after Toluca hold firm

The Azteca erupted in the second minute of stoppage time when Henry Martín rifled a shot into the top corner, but the ecstasy turned to agony as a VAR review found the striker to have been marginally offside before receiving possession.

That was as close as Fernando Ortiz’s men came to rescuing their season, and their wait for a 14th Liga MX title continues.

Toluca advance to the Apertura final where they will face either Monterrey or Pachuca.