Membership America’s Henry Martin retains World Cup hopes alive; Chivas in want of a brand new coach?

In a busy weekend that included 29 targets over eight video games, Liga MX showcased a game-changing brace for Membership America, a surprising solo efficiency from a standout Monterrey midfielder, ongoing points with league giants Chivas, and extra!

In case you missed any of the motion, listed below are three speaking factors and a few further observations from this weekend’s motion in Mexico’s prime flight.

– THIS WEDNESDAY: MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars on ESPN
– ESPN+ viewers guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more
– Futbol Americas on ESPN+: MLS, Liga MX, USMNT, El Tri

Membership America’s Martin making World Cup case

Henry Martin has solely made issues harder for Mexico supervisor Gerardo “Tata” Martino. With the World Cup arising, it is grow to be extra apparent in current months that the backup striker spot behind Raul Jimenez has been left to Monterrey’s Rogelio Funes Mori, Feyenoord’s new signing Santiago Gimenez and Martin.

On Sunday, Martin helped his case with two targets in a 2-1 win for Club America over Juarez, marking the second recreation in a row that the ahead had collected a brace.

“Hold doing my job, preserve doing issues nicely on the pitch,” stated the 29-year-old after thew in “I feel that is crucial factor.”

If he continues his type, it is perhaps powerful to miss the ahead who’s prospering with Mexico’s most profitable membership. Counting current friendlies in opposition to Manchester City and Real Madrid, Martin now has six targets in his final 5 appearances with the Mexico Metropolis aspect.

As for his crew, the three factors have been their first in Liga MX play since final month, transferring them as much as 14th within the standings with ample room for enchancment.

Finish of the road for Chivas’ Cadena?

Issues can change fairly shortly in Liga MX, and for Chivas supervisor Ricardo Cadena, he is gone from hero to villain in a matter of simply months.

As interim supervisor, he steered the Guadalajara membership to 5 consecutive victories by Could. However Cadena has since suffered with no single win within the begin of the brand new season. Final Friday’s 2-1 loss to Mazatlan retains Chivas with no victory within the Apertura season, leaving them at second-to-last place within the league desk.

“I’ve no excuses. We have had a foul begin, a really unhealthy begin to the event,” stated a dejected Cadena tafter the loss.

Defensively the crew has appeared ample, however it’s the assault that has actually held Chivas again. Los Rojiblancos have scored simply 4 instances all season — a league worst — and continually look annoyed as they try to interrupt down opposing defenses.

As for Cadena, assuming he hasn’t been fired simply but, it seems as if this Saturday’s Clasico Tapatio match in opposition to defending league champions Atlas can be a do-or-die state of affairs for the supervisor. One other week with no victory will probably be sufficient to finish his tenure with Chivas.

Gonzalez pushes Monterrey to fifth win in final seven

There is no manner of discovering any faults in Arturo “Ponchito” Gonzalez‘s efficiency on Saturday evening. With a hat-trick and an help, the 27-year-old Mexican midfielder propelled Monterrey to an emphatic 5-1 win over Leon.

“I am left with the sensation of at the moment’s teamwork. Some gamers capitalized on it, on this case, Ponchito,” stated supervisor Victor Manuel Vucetich within the post-game information convention.

Gonzalez has been important to Vucetich’s efforts this season, including in three targets and 5 assists in his first seven video games of the Apertura event. Whereas many El Tri fans have been calling for him to have extra alternatives with the nationwide crew, the midfielder appears to profit from solely having membership duties to concentrate on. In recent times, Gonzalez has grow to be indispensable for the Liga MX aspect that are actually as much as second within the league desk.

It is no simple feat to shine in a crew that’s stuffed with among the prime names in Liga MX, and no matter what occurs forward of Qatar, Gonzalez seems primed to guide Monterrey to a powerful end within the Apertura.

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Liga MX president Mikel Arriola explains why he is nervous that Liga MX may fall behind the MLS in competitiveness.

Extra observations

– Elsewhere in Week 7 outcomes: Three late targets within the second half supplied Atlas with a 3-1 win over Queretaro, Santos Laguna brushed previous Cruz Azul with a dominant 4-0 victory, Toluca moved to the highest of the desk with a 3-1 end result in opposition to Membership Tijuana, Necaxa sneaked previous San Luis a 2-1 away win, and a brace from Nico Ibañez guided Pachuca to a 2-0 victory in opposition to Tigres.

– Throughout Sunday’s Joan Gamper Trophy match on the Camp Nou, Pumas have been humbled by Barcelona in a 6-0 friendly thrashing. Returning to Barcelona for the primary time since signing with Pumas, Brazilian defender Dani Alves was honored earlier than the sport with a commemorative award and jersey.

– Ajax Amsterdam introduced on Friday that they’d began a partnership with Pachuca. Each groups will “cooperate within the discipline of information and expertise growth” whereas the Dutch powerhouse may also assist with coaching coaches. In the meantime, Ajax are additionally on the verge of signing extremely touted defender Jorge Sanchez from Membership America.

– The 2022 MLS All-Star Sport will kick off this Wednesday evening in opposition to the league’s finest taking over Liga MX’s All-Stars at Allianz Area in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In final 12 months’s first meetup between the 2 squads in Los Angeles, MLS defeated Liga MX 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 attract regulation time. On Tuesday, each squads may also participate in a expertise problem competitors.