Category: Liga MX – English

Liga MX: Liga MX: Pachuca sweeps past Toluca to become champions in one of the most lopsided finals in Mexican history


There was no surprise, miracle or feat, Pachuca became the champion of the Liga MX Apertura 2022 Tournament, reaching the seventh title in its history, after defeating Toluca 3-1 (8-2 on aggregate) in the second leg of the final.

In front of a full house at the Hidalgo Stadium, the Tuzos avoided any kind of surprise. The Diablos Rojos were hopeful with Ral Lpez‘s goal at minute 21, but Vctor Guzmn, at 45’+3, the tournament’s top scorer, Nicols Ibez, at 51′, and Gustavo Cabral, at 75′, scored the comeback goals that gave a great flavor to the well-deserved championship.

Toluca scored the first goal of the match

Despite Toluca’s four-goal deficit going into the second leg, coach Ignacio Ambriz‘s team did not give up and it was Tiago Volpi who thwarted the home team’s first chance with a spectacular flight, while “Dedos” Lpez fed the Diablos Rojos’ hopes with a right-footed shot from outside the box to cut the deficit to three goals.

At that moment, the team led by Uruguayan coach Guillermo Almada woke up and took control of the ball with Romario Ibarra trying to create danger, but with little success. It was not until the end of the first half when Nicols Ibez missed a penalty kick, but in the following play, Vctor Guzmn appeared to shoot with his left foot inside the box and make it 1-1 at halftime.

Pachuca secured the championship in the second half

In the second half, Toluca remained in the fight, but Ibaez rebounded from the missed penalty kick by perfectly unmarking himself inside the box and with a great right-footed shot, gave Pachuca a 2-1 lead.

The definitive 3-1 came from a penalty kick that the team from the State of Hidalgo took, thanks to Gustavo Cabral, who made the final score 3-1.

The fans of the team that founded soccer in Mexico had already felt like champions since the first leg, so the party was complete this Sunday.



World Cup 2022: Chicharito Hernandez and Carlos Vela are officially out of the World Cup: Tata Martino gave a pre-list of 31 players


Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino revealed the preliminary list of 31 players of the Mexican National Team that will travel to Girona, Spain for the last stage of concentration, where they will play friendly matches against Iraq and Sweden, to finish polishing details ahead of their debut in the Qatar 2022 World Cup on November 21 against Poland. As expected, neither Javier “Chicharito” Hernndez of the Los Angeles Galaxy nor Carlos Vela of Los Angeles FC of the MLS are included in this call-up.

Tecatito Corona and Ral Jimnez, still with hope

Highlights of Chicharito’s best goals

The facilities of the Mexican Soccer Federation in Toluca were dressed up to make the announcement of the 31 who will pass to the final stage, a list in which Tata keeps the injured Tecatito Corona and Ral Jimnez, whom he will hold out until the end.

Martino revealed two lists, that of the 31 and that of the youngsters from Liga MX who will serve as sparring partners for El Tri in Qatar to gain experience.

Then it was the turn of Jaime Ordiales, the Director of National Teams, who thanked everyone involved in the World Cup process to get to Qatar.

Chicharito confirms he’s coming back to play for the LA Galaxy next yearTwitter: @GioGarciaLA

El Tri’s thanks to its fans

The FMF presented the ‘Mexico de mi vida‘ campaign with an emotional video in which Ral Jimnez was seen crying in front of a chat with fans and then the President of the Mexican Federation Yon de Luisa took the floor and highlighted that a series of training sessions have been held with all the group rivals and thanked the players.

“I want to emphasize our gratitude to all the players who participated in these four years and a very special recognition and to the 26 who will be known on November 14,” De Luisa said.

The last cut will be made on November 14, to leave the final list with the 26 players required by FIFA for the World Cup and two days later will be the last preparation game against Sweden.

Tata’s 31 chosen for El Tri’s last training camp

There are no surprises, but among the five eliminated, Tata will have to leave out a center forward and everything points to it being Santiago Gimnez, if Jimnez recovers.

Goalkeepers

Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera, Rodolfo Cota.

Defenders

Jorge Snchez, Kevin lvarez, Jess Alberto Angulo, Nstor Araujo, Hctor Moreno, Csar Montes, Johan Vsquez, Jess Gallardo and Gerardo Arteaga.

Midfielders

Edson lvarez, Hctor Herrera, Andrs Guardado, Erick Gutirrez, Luis Chvez, Erick Snchez, Luis Romo, Carlos Rodrguez, Diego Lainez, Orbeln Pineda, Roberto Alvarado and Uriel Antuna.

Forwards

Jess Manuel Corona, Hirving Lozano, Ral Jimnez, Alexis Vega, Rogelio Funes Mori, Henry Martn and Santiago Gimnez.

El Tri sparrings in Qatar

Martino began his participation in the announcement event by revealing the names of the young players that the Mexican National Team will take to Qatar to help them prepare for the matches as sparring partners:

Karel Campos, Emilio Lara, Campos, Romn Martnez, Vctor Guzmn, Isaas Violante, Sebastin Prez, Fidel Ambriz, Heriberto jurado, Jess Hernndez, Mauricio Isaas, Emilio Martnez, Alfredo Gutirrez, Ali vila, Jorge Ruvalcaba and Santiago Trigos.



Liga MX: Real Madrid legend, Fernando Hierro, named as Chivas’ new General Manager


Chivas confirmed the arrival of Fernando Hierro as its new GM.

On their official social network accounts, Chivas announced that Hierro will replace Ricardo Pelaez as sporting director. Pelaez left the position last week with little success in three years of management.

Fernando Hierro played for Real Madrid from 1989 to 2003. He disputed four World Cups as a footballer and coached Spain in the last FIFA World Cup.

Fernando Hierro’s introduction

Chivas introduced Fernando Hierro on their social networks with a video in which owner Amaury Vergara prepares a package with the team’s logo and takes a tour of the Akron stadium, and the streets of Guadalajara until reaching Madrid.

The video shows emblematic places of the Spanish capital and ends in Fernando Hierro’s apartment. Real Madrid’s legend gets the package, opens it, and takes out the jacket that accredits him as sports director.

“Thank you very much for allowing me to work with you, it is a beautiful challenge ahead of us. A hug for everyone,” said Fernando Hierro from his home in Madrid in the video.

Hierro has a 15-year career in sports management

In the press release shared by Chivas, the team described how Fernando Hierro has a career of more than 15 years as sports director, in which he has won a World Cup, a European Championship, and several other achievements with the Royal Spanish Federation.

They assured that Fernando Hierro arrives in Guadalajara to lead the new red and white era in its 2023 sports project.

“With this incorporation, adjustments will be made to the First Team roster and in various work processes within the Basic Forces, seeking to leap in quality that the institution requires to return the Rebao Sagrado to the top levels that its tradition and fans demand,” the statement reads.

As part of the introduction video of Hierro as the new sporting manager, Chivas’ media team traveled to El Clasico to interview Madrid fans.

All of the interviewed fans agreed that the Mexican team made the best signing they could afford and that he will bring the experience of European soccer.

“He knows soccer like no one else because he played for the best team in the world,” said one proud Real Madrid fan.



World Cup 2022: Qatar 2022 crazy restrictions for Mexican fans: Lucha Libre masks are banned


Every four years, during the celebration of the World Cup, Mexican fans are one of the most colorful in the stadiums with charro hats, the singing of “Cielito Lindo“, a traditional Mexican song, and the colorful masks of Lucha Libre, another sport that is very characteristic in this country.

However, the Qatar 2022 Organizing Committee does not agree with this tradition and announced on Monday that fans will not be allowed to wear masks inside the stadiums.

A new phase of Qatar 2022 ticket sales gets underway on Tuesday

Lucha Libre masks at Qatar 2022 are banned

“The latest update from the Organizing Committee is that masks will not be allowed, I have to confess that we took some wrestlers’ masks to ask if they could be used and they told us they didn’t see a problem,” explained Alfonso Zagbe, executive director of Strategy and Public Diplomacy at Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with ESPN. “Let’s not forget that we are in a complex region, the Middle East, so in their latest update, which stipulates what you can and can’t do, masks are prohibited.”

The federal official warned that if fans even smuggle these items into the stadiums, starting in their first three group stage matches against Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia, security personnel will issue them a warning. “They will tell you that you can’t use them, if you take them out there.”

That is why Zagbe pointed out that it is important to warn Mexican fans that just as they are not told something last minute, they could also be asked to take them off, “that is why it is recommended not to wear masks.”

Other restrictions for tourists in Qatar 2022

In addition, the Mexican official indicated that there are other restrictions for tourists, for example, it is forbidden to bring alcohol into the country:

“If it is at the airport, the alcohol is automatically seized and if there is anything that would exceed minor administrative sanctions, then there is going to be consular protection from the Mexican authorities.”

The Organizing Committee has announced that there are other prohibited conducts during the World Cup, such as having extramarital affairs or drinking alcohol in public, so the event is expected to be completely atypical to what we have seen in the recent history of the tournament.