Monterrey defeat Club America on penalties to win Liga MX 2019 Apertura title

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:18 am
Monterrey celebrates
Monterrey celebrates
JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images

MEXICO CITY -- Leonel Vangioni netted from the spot to win the Liga MX 2019 Apertura for Monterrey 4-2 in a penalty shootout against Club America, after the game finished 2-1 to Las Aguilas following extra-time on Sunday.

Federico Vinas and Richard Sanchez both scored in the first half for America, with Rogelio Funes Mori leveling the aggregate scores at 3-3 in the 75th minute.

The title was reigning CONCACAF Champions League winner Monterrey's fifth, while Las Aguilas remain Mexico's most successful club on 13.

Club America flew out of the blocks from the off looking to turn around the 2-1 deficit from the first leg, with the 72,667-capacity crowd urging the team forward.

America had a goal disallowed in the third minute when Bruno Valdez handled, but three minutes later Uruguayan Vinas rolled his marker, cut inside and fired a shot in off the post to open the scoring as Monterrey failed to get to grips with the occasion.

America continued to look the more dangerous side and netted again in the 25th minute through Roger Martinez, but it was ruled out for a handball by Sanchez earlier in the same play.

Monterrey threatened very little and looked tired after its recent trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup. The face the game with at altitude in Mexico City surely didn't help.

But a half-time substitution, replacing playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro with Dutch striker Vincent Janssen, improved Monterrey after the break and the team from northern Mexico started to have more possession.

It was a mistake from America full-back Jorge Sanchez that helped Monterrey to its vital goal.

Sanchez miscued a clearance with 15 minutes left in normal time, leaving Dorlan Pabon free to square the ball to Funes Mori, who tapped in to send the 6,000 traveling fans wild.

Monterrey looked the more likely team to win the ball during the remainder of normal time and the 30 minutes extra, although it was Vinas who went closest to winning the game late on when his header rebounded off the bar with five minutes to go in extra time.

Guido Rodriguez fired his penalty over the bar, while Nico Castillo saw his penalty saved by Marcelo Barovero, leaving Argentine Vangioni to net the winner.