Liga MX Week 3: Pumas triumphs, Club America remains winless | OneFootball

The 2023 Liga MX Clausura is well underway.

The third week of the tournament saw several surprises, including a shocking hat-trick by Rogelio Funes Mori to inspire the 3-1 victory for Rayados de Monterrey over Atletico San Luis. Elsewhere, Pachuca continued to exert their dominance with a 4-1 win against FC Juarez, while Pumas bounced back from a turbulent week off the field.

Here's everything you missed this weekend in Liga MX...

1. Pumas

Pumas UNAM triumphs 4-1 over Leon. / Hector Vivas/GettyImages

Before even reaching the pitch, Pumas UNAM held a press conference to announce the termination of Dani Alves' contract with the club. Pumas president Leopoldo Silva firmly stated his actions did not align with team values."With the information that occurred today about the legal process that the player Dani Alves is facing, and for which he is detained in Spain, we have determined to communicate the following: the Club Universidad Nacional has made the decision to terminate the employment contract with Dani Alves from this day on," said president of Pumas Leopoldo Silva."With this decision, the club reiterates its commitment not to tolerate acts by any member of our institution, whoever they may be, that go against the university spirit and its values."The team then took the field against Club Leon on Sunday, their third match of the 2023 Liga MX Clausura. Pumas wasted no time, earning the early lead in the 9th minute of the match with a goal by Gustavo Javier del Prete. Leon managed to find the equalizer in the first half, before Pumas scored three more in the second 45 to triumph 4-1. The team now sits in fourth place on the table, with six points in three games.

2. Club America extends winless streak

Club America draws 2-2 with Puebla. / Jam Media/GettyImages

Club America has yet to win a game in the 2023 Liga MX Clausura. The team drew 2-2 against Puebla on Saturday night at the Estadio Azteca, propelling the Eagles to a three game winless streak. Goals from Alejandro Zendejas and Henry Martin initially earned Club America the edge, before being canceled out by efforts from Gaston Silva and Emanuel Gularte to earn each side one point. But with just three points in the last three games, America head coach Fernando Ortiz insists the team is not in ‘crisis mode’ yet. "I do not see the crisis, It is something worrying to call, yes, with respect to the goals that they are scoring against us, but for the rest I am calm," he said. "Difficult, the start that we are having, but we have to continue working. it's the only solution, we have good things at times but we cannot have those oversights; above all we have to take advantage of all that we have and below we cannot allow that definitively,” added forward Henry Martin.

3. Pachuca reigns

Pachuca triumphs 4-1 over FC Juarez. / Manuel Velasquez/GettyImages

Pachuca continues to stun, leaving behind the ‘curse’ of the reigning champions. The 2022 Apertura winners triumphed 4-1 over FC Juarez on Sunday, extending their dominance in the 2023 Clausura. Young Mexican national team prospect Mauricio Isais kicked off the scoring for Pachuca, followed by goals from defender José Castillo Pérez and forward Roberto de la Rosa. The victory comes just days after Pachuca saw their leading goalscorer Nico Ibáñez transfer to Tigres. The departure forced Pachuca head coach Guillermo Almada to find new options in the attack, looking to young figures and academy players. And the team did not disappoint.

4.

Rogelio Funes Mori scored a hat-trick for Monterrey. / Jam Media/GettyImages

Nexaca defeated Cruz Azul 1-0, with a goal by Édgar Méndez in the first half. Rogelio Funes Mori propelled Rayados de Monterrey to a 3-1 victory over Atletico San Luis with a hat-trick. Santos Laguna doubled down with another consecutive victory, this time a 2-1 triumph over Mazatlan.