Brazilian coach Andre Jardine’s América defeated León 2-3 on Tuesday to move within one step of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Clausura 2026 Mexican soccer tournament.
In the continuation of the sixteenth and penultimate matchday, Uruguayan Brian Rodríguez, Erick Sánchez and Alejandro Zendejas scored for the Azulcremas, while Colombian Díber Cambindo and Fernando Beltrán scored for the home team.
America strikes first
América, in need of victories to avoid jeopardizing their access to the decisive phase of the championship, started off impetuously and took a 2-0 lead against León.
Rodriguez scored a left-footed goal off a pass from Israel Reyes in the third minute, and Sanchez scored a right-footed goal with an assist from Colombian Cristian Borja.
León did not panic, moved forward, evened up the scoreboard and did so against América.
In the 37th minute, Cambindo scored his seventh goal of the championship, right-footed, off a pass from Chile’s Rodrigo Echeverría, and in the 45+3 minute, Beltrán tied the match with an elegant right-footed strike from outside the box.
León started better in the second half, but when they were at their best, the referee awarded a penalty, converted by Zendejas in the 77th minute, making it 2-3.
América fell back and, although León closed down better, they were erratic in their crosses into the box.
They dropped to eighth place in the standings with 22 points, one less than Tigres UANL, who will take them out of the qualification zone if they defeat Atlas today.
With 25 units, the Eagles moved into sixth place.
Monterrey and Pumas react with authority
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In another match, Spaniard Oliver Torres scored a goal to break a 1-1 tie and give Monterrey a 2-1 win over Puebla.
Uruguayan Emiliano Gómez gave Puebla the lead in the second minute.
The Argentine Lucas Ocampos equalized from a penalty kick and Torres decided the duel between two eliminated teams.
A couple of hours earlier, Paraguay’s Robert Morales scored two late goals to give Pumas UNAM a 4-2 win over Juarez FC, putting the universitarios in second place.
Juarez went ahead with goals from Francisco Nevarez and Jairo Torres.
But in the 55th minute, Eder López was sent off and the Pumas equalized with a pair of goals from Guillermo Martínez.
Morales shines at the end as Cruz Azul worsens its crisis
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The Eagles moved into sixth place
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Morales confirmed his good form by converting a header in the 86th minute and a right-footed shot in the 90th+8th minute.
In Tuesday’s other game, Querétaro drew 1-1 with Cruz Azul, who have now gone nine games without a win.
Jeremy Márquez scored for Los Azules, but then put through his own goal, extending the crisis for Argentine coach Nicolás Larcamón’s Celestes.
Today, leaders Guadalajara will visit Necaxa, champions Toluca will visit Mazatlán, Tigres UANL will visit Atlas and Pachuca will visit Tijuana.
With information from EFE
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