Liga MX

Récord, a Mexican daily sports newspaper, has named 18-year-old American midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez in its Torneo Apertura Best XI following a sensational breakthrough season for the California native at Monterrey.

After signing with Monterrey in 2014, Gonzalez advanced through the youth ranks before becoming a mainstay in the heart of Los Rayados’ midfield throughout the 2017 Apertura season. Monterrey finished at the top of the table in the regular season before losing in the final to Tigres.

In continuing the theme of 2017 being a sh*t year for U.S. soccer, the lone American at the Club World Cup was at fault for the goal that knocked Mexico’s Pachuca out of the competition on Tuesday at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the UAE. Gremio’s Everton turned Omar Gonzalez inside out before curling in a wonderful shot to give the Brazilian side a 1-0 victory in extra time.

Gonzalez apparently thought he was still playing for the USMNT, perhaps against Trinidad and Tobago. 

With everything on the line, Aviles Hurtado channeled his inner Simone Zaza, hitting an absolutely appalling penalty kick to cost Monterrey the Liga MX Apertura championship, allowing UANL to pull off an impressive comeback to win 3-2 on aggregate on Sunday.

The Rayados took an early lead in the second leg on Sunday before two quick-fire goals helped the Tigres win the 2017 Apertura title after losing the preceding Clausura clash with Chivas in May. 

Tigres and Monterrey are in the Liga MX final. The first leg took place last night in Monterrey (Tigres were home, both teams are based in Monterrey), and, as expected, it was extremely fun.

To recap: A silly goal from a corner kick, a panenka penalty, a second-yellow sending off and then ANOTHER second-yellow sending off.

Liga MX has this charming habit of not telling folks what time their Liguilla matches are going to take place until just a few days beforehand. One of the things we like most about Liga MX is reveling in its chaos, so we can't complain too much. Good news: the 2017 Liga MX Apertura finals schedule has been finalized and updated.

Guido Rodríguez can kick. Be it the face of his opponents or the ball, the Argentinean has proven he has enough power in his right foot to make any stadium explode with joy or awe.

Earlier this season, it was former Club América star Rubens Sambueza who got savagely kicked in the face by his compatriot Guido Rodríguez. 

Sometimes it feels like fate is inevitable. But then there are times when even as you do the worst you could possibly do, things go your way. This happened in the Club America vs Queretaro penalty shootout in Copa MX.

Copa MX is underestimated by most. However, on occasion it delivers quite entertaining games. Sometimes this entertaining quality is not granted by the quality of the game but rather the opposite. This was the case when Club América hosted Querétaro in the Copa MX quarter finals.

C.F. Monterrey are cruising at the top of the Liga MX table with the playoffs looming, and they have the league’s stingiest defense to thank for that. Los Rayados have conceded only nine goals in 14 matches, and 18-year-old defensive midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez has played a large role in accomplishing that mean feat.