The reigning champs strutted their stuff, while two of the division’s top teams continued their winning ways. Here are three things from week 4:
América Grind Their Way to the Top of the Table
Despite the club’s rich history of adventurous attacking play, it’s all about substance over style for Santiago Solari’s América. Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Atlas wasn’t pretty, but it was further proof that the Argentinean’s pragmatic outlook is paying dividends.
Las Águilas were second best for the opening hour at the Estadio Jalisco, and they seemed set to drop at least two points when Emanuel Aguilera was given his marching orders in the 57th minute. However, they showed plenty of steel to shut down the hosts before Sebastián Córdova’s clinical strike sealed a satisfying success.
Solari’s side have now collected four straight wins in all competitions, and they’ve conceded only once since the season started. That stingy streak has them sitting pretty in first place, and they hold a comfortable aggregate advantage over Philadelphia Union ahead of next month’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinal return leg.
After his debut campaign ended with a disappointing quarterfinal elimination to Pachuca, Solari must get his hands on silverware in his sophomore season. If that can be achieved, a demanding fanbase will surely forgive the lack of free-flowing football.
Strong Second String Makes Cruz Azul Title Favorites
They might boast a few of the league’s best players, but a deep squad is the key to Cruz Azul’s success. Juan Reynoso has built a collective where every member is capable of making crucial contributions, and the lesser lights stepped up yet again in Saturday’s thrashing of Toluca.
With star striker Jonathan Rodríguez on the bench, Bryan Angulo stole the show with a clinical brace. Pablo Aguilar replacement Alexis Peña didn’t put a foot wrong in defense. As Jesús Corona continues to recover from a fractured pinky finger, Sebastián Jurado shone between the sticks with five saves.
That trio could all drop to the bench when mighty Monterrey comes to town on Wednesday in what is a potential final preview. However, having a surfeit of difference makers in reserve is undoubtedly a good problem to have for Reynoso. The line between glory and failure in the Liguilla is razor thin, and the more trusted options a coach can call on, the better.
León Streaking Under Holan
Just a few weeks ago, it was all doom and gloom at León. Defeat to Cruz Azul in the Campeón de Campeones had been followed by a crushing 4-0 reverse at Pachuca in round one, which left question marks surrounding Ariel Holan’s incipient tenure.
Yet, the former Independiente strategist has steadied the ship brilliantly since that damaging defeat at the Estadio Hidalgo. La Fiera have fired off four straight wins in all competitions, and they’ve scored nine times in their last two outings.
Six of those strikes did come against an understrength Sporting Kansas City in the Leagues Cup, but no asterisk can be put on Saturday’s triumph over a Mazatlán side that had taken seven points from the first nine on offer. On a flooded field at the Nou Camp, the hosts still managed to stitch together the pretty passing patterns that they’ve become known for over the past few years.
It’s still too early to tell if this team can reach the level of Nacho Ambriz’s Guard1anes 2020 juggernaut, but we will learn a lot more over the next month. La Fiera’s next four matches are all against potential playoff foes (Chivas, Santos, América and Tigres).
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