Sergio Canales scored a stellar goal but the title was complicated for Monterrey

The champion America lost 2-1 Rayados de Monterrey and took advantage in the final of the tournament Mexican openingwhere he is seeking his third consecutive title. In Puebla, central Mexico, the emerging headquarters of the Águilas, Kevin Álvarez and Alex Zendejas scored for Azulcremas, while the Cantabrian Sergio Canales with Rayados discounted by Argentine coach Matín Demichelis.

Despite losing one of their offensive spark plugs, Argentine Lucas Ocampo, to injury in the 4th minute, Monterrey repeatedly trounced the opposition zone; In the 26th minute Canales shot wide and in the 35th minute he made it 0-1, with a left-footed shot from behind. América, led by Brazilian André Jardine, was patient and in the 39th minute equalized with a right-footed goal from Álvarez, after a pass from Alex Zendejas.

In the second half the Águilas came out for the kill and in the 49th minute they took a 2-1 lead with a left-footed goal from Zendejas, off a pass from Spaniard Álvaro Fidalgo. Monterrey became disorganized and harassed by an aggressive opponent who squandered three clear scoring chances in three minutes, two of them with accurate displays by goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas, one with a shot from outside Uruguayan Sebastián Cáceres.

Rayados got the ball and went ahead with goals in the last half hour of play, but the local team had the best chance to score, a shot in favor of Fidalgo, which was stopped by Cárdenas, who again scored in Monterrey , in the 88th Demichelis’ team continued to search for a goal against an América waiting to be punished in a counter attack that did not come.

The second leg of the final will be played next Sunday at the Rayados stadium, who will try to take advantage of their home status to win. If it wins by one goal, Monterrey will force a tiebreaker on penalties, if it wins by a larger margin, it will win the title, but if América wins or draws in the court of royals, it will revalidate the crown.