Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – 2nd Round – Roundup and Results

Last Updated on October 17, 2022 2:55 pm by Erwin Noguera

The Liga MX continued this weekend when the second legs of the Liguilla quarterfinals were played; now the four teams that will play in the semifinals of the tournament are known.

The only surprise in these quarterfinals was that Santos Laguna could not beat Toluca despite having everything in their favor. Otherwise, the series ended as we all expected, with sporting justice reigning once again in each of the matches.

Monterrey made their home ground respected and crushed Cruz Azul by a score of 3-0; to win the series and continue their quest for the championship. América continues to be unstoppable and once again massacred a Puebla that conceded 11 goals in two games. Pachuca suffered, but managed a 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL, and; although the series ended tied 2-2, the Tuzos finished the regular phase in a better position than Tigres.

With these results, the semifinal matches, which will also be played in a double elimination, will be played as follows:

• Pachuca vs. Monterrey – Miguel Hidalgo Stadium
• Toluca vs. América – Nemesio Díez Stadium

Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Roundup – Cruz Azul vs. Monterrey – Info

When: Saturday, October 15 at 07:06 pm ET

Moneyline odds: Cruz Azul +400 / Monterrey -144 (Source: MyBookie.ag)

Draw Offs: +285

Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz

Rayados, with a forcefulness that they did not show in the first leg at the Azteca Stadium, as well as a bit of luck, managed to reach the semifinals of the Liguilla of the 2022 Liga MX Opening Tournament, after defeating Cruz Azul with an excellent 3-0 win.

Even though Cruz Azul proposed and attacked dangerously on several occasions, the Argentinean goalkeeper, Andrada, ended up being the star of the show by keeping a clean sheet for the fifth consecutive time in the Apertura 2022.

After 20 minutes, striker Germán Berterame made it 1-0 thanks to a header inside the box, a goal with which he celebrated the Golden Ball award he received before the match.

Monterrey managed to withstand all of Cruz Azul’s attacks throughout the match, and it was not until the final stretch of the game that they were able to seal the game and thus give their fans the peace of mind of having advanced to the semifinals of the Liguilla. 

In the 85th minute, Rogelio Funes Mori scored his team’s second goal in a play that had to be verified by the VAR. In the 90+4th minute, Jesus Gallardo appeared with a spectacular shot inside the box to make the final score 3-0.

Monterrey will now face a very powerful Pachuca in the semifinals of this opening tournament.

Result: Cruz Azul (0) – (3) Monterrey

Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Roundup – Puebla vs. América – Info

When: Saturday, October 15 at 09:06 pm ET

Moneyline odds: Puebla +550 / América -214 (Source: MyBookie.ag)

Draw Offs: +370

Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz

América, coached by the Argentine Fernando Ortiz, broke the record for goals scored in a Liguilla playoff since the introduction of short tournaments in Mexican soccer, after sweeping Puebla 11-2 on aggregate this Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Apertura 2022.

With this, they overcame the terrible defeat that Toluca inflicted on Puebla with a score of 9-0 in the summer of 2000. This set the Diablos Rojos on their way to becoming champions of that tournament.

After the 6-1 win in the first leg, the fans flocked to the Azteca Stadium in a colorful and joyful atmosphere. On the field, the team coached by Ortíz fulfilled the evening and defeated Puebla 5-1 in the second leg of the quarterfinals.

With the ticket to the semifinals practically sealed, América’s Argentinean coach decided to make 6 changes concerning those who played in the first leg, but this did not stop the gale of goals that would fall on La Franja.

América’s goals were scored by Brian Rodríguez (’21), Henry Martín (’27), Roger Martínez (’50), Álvaro Fidalgo (’60) and Miguel Layún (’85). Meanwhile, Puebla managed to pull one back in the 35th minute thanks to a goal by Maximiliano Araújo, but this was of no use for the final score.

América will now face Toluca in the semifinals of the 2022 Liguilla.

Result: Puebla (1) – (5) América

Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Roundup – Toluca vs. Santos Laguna – Info

When: Sunday, October 16 at 08:06 pm ET

Moneyline odds: Toluca +340 / Santos Laguna -131 (Source: MyBookie.ag)

Draw Offs: +295

Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz

Santos was unable to pull forward after a good regular phase, and for the second consecutive match, lost to an inspired Toluca that wants to return to being the fearsome team that started the opening tournament as the best team in the league.

The Diablos Rojos are in the semifinals of the Apertura 2022, after defeating la Comarca by a score of 1-2 at the Corona Stadium in a game that had few emotions.

They managed to play a very intelligent game on the road and, in a blink of an eye, when Santos got completely careless, they managed to seal the series with two goals in just two minutes in the second half. In the 48th and 50th minutes, Jean Meneses and Andrés Mosquera were responsible for the final blow in this match.

Santos Laguna managed a discount in the 90+6th minute through Fernando Gorriarán.

With this, Toluca will have the very complicated task of facing the best team of the tournament, América, which is coming like a train without brakes.

Result: Toluca (2) – (1) Santos Laguna

Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Roundup – Tigres UANL vs. Pachuca – Info

When: Sunday, October 16 at 10:06 pm ET

Moneyline odds: Tigres UANL +248 / Pachuca +108 (Source: MyBookie.ag)

Draw Offs: +255

Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz

With the rosary in their hands and in a match in which there was much suffering, Pachuca achieved the goal and reached the Liguilla semifinals after defeating Tigres UANL by a score of 2-1. The Tuzos achieved a 2-2 aggregate draw against the felines, but their better position in the table during the regular tournament sent them to the next round, where they will now have to face Monterrey.

Tigres had arrived at the Hidalgo Stadium with a hard-fought victory in the first leg, with a penalty kick in the last minutes, converted by André-Pierre Gignac, forcing Pachuca to win tonight to advance.

The latter managed to equalize the aggregate tie very early in the match, thanks to a great goal scored by Víctor Guzmán at minute 19, but in the second half, Tigres started with everything and were much better than them, until they got the equalizer through Guido Pizarro at minute 64.

However, four minutes later, Pachuca regained control of the match after a goal by Javier López.

In the final minutes, and after the red card received by Pachuca’s Kevin Álvarez, Tigres went on the attack in an attempt to tie the match and thus advance to the semifinals, but, at minute 90+4, Tigres’ Samir Caetano was also sent off and the match died immediately.

Now, Pachuca must face the complicated Monterrey in the semifinals of the 2022 Opening Tournament.

Result: Tigres UANL (1) – (2) Pachuca