Winners and Losers from Liga MX Week of 8
The 2014 Apertura continued with Matchday 8 after a hiatus due to the latest FIFA date.
Only two teams managed to secure victories: Santos (vs. Leon) and Toluca (vs. Cruz Azul); the first on home soil.
Also, the Monterrey vs. Guadalajara game was suspended due to inclement weather, and it could take place until next month.
There are things that didn't change. Morelia kept their winless streak, but in all fairness they showed some improvement.
America is still on top of the general table, followed closely by Monterrey, Santos Laguna and Atlas.
Let's take a look at the winners and losers from Week 8.
Winner: Cuauhtemoc Blanco
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Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a penalty kick for Puebla in the injury time, which gave La Franja a valuable point in their visit to the Estadio Corregidora.
It was also El Cuau's first goal in the Liga MX since the 2008 Apertura tournament, when he appeared four times with Santos Laguna in the Liguilla.
Back then, Blanco scored in the quarterfinal vs. San Luis also from the penalty spot.
Losers: Cruz Azul
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Cruz Azul hadn’t lost three games in the first eight matchdays since the 2010 Bicentenario tournament; the last time they had less than nine points in eight games was in the 2004 Apertura, when Luis Fernando Tena was also in charge of the team.
Matchday 8 was a nightmare for La Maquina. Jesus Corona not only made a terrible mistake that resulted in Toluca's second goal, he also received a red card after complaining to the referee.
Despite Pablo Barrera's effort to get his team back on track, with a powerful shot from outside the box, Tena's side couldn't take advantage of playing on home soil.
"Golazo de Pablo Barrera contra Toluca https://t.co/e3mwDtAQru vía @vineapp
— srgolazo (@srgolazo2) September 13, 2014"
Winners: Morelia
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Morelia have yet to win in the 2014 Apertura, but last weekend they managed to secure points for the third time in the tournament.
Recently appointed coach Jose Cruz had 10 days to work with his squad and managed to break Monarca's losing record, which include three successive defeats. His side left Chiapas with a one-goal draw.
Cruz has a long way to go before making a real impact, but we saw little improvements against Jaguares, including 15 shots, 78 percent in passing accuracy and 11 interventions, as per Squawka.
Losers: UNAM
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It seemed like UNAM had everything under controlled in the first half of the match against UANL. However, Ricardo Ferretti's boys went back to the pitch inspired and stunned the home team.
Pumas let a two-goal advantage slip away in 16 minutes. Jesus Duenas scored Tigres' first with one of the best goals of the matchday.
"Revive el gol de Dueñas que acerca a Tigres en el marcador. https://t.co/gY1bEfQaCD
— Simplemente Tigres (@SimpleTigres) September 14, 2014"
The second came after a penalty kick from Juninho, just three minutes before injury time.
Coach Guillermo Vazquez needs to pay special attention to the mental side of his team's game. The players struggled throughout the second half not because they lack talent, but because they rushed and forgot about structure.
Winner: Carlos Ochoa
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Veracruz faced Atlas hoping to grab as much points as possible, in order to leave the relegation zone behind, and Carlos Ochoa was instrumental to achieve the feat.
The former Mexico international joined Tiburones Rojos for the 2014 Apertura after two good seasons with Chiapas.
Ochoa hadn’t put the ball away since March, when he scored a brace against Atlas.
This time he helped his team secure a one-goal draw at the Estadio Luis "Pirata" de la Fuente.
"Gol de Veracruz Carlos ochoa Veracruz 1 Atlas 0 https://t.co/kL4WzM1V4t vía @vineapp
— srgolazo (@srgolazo2) September 13, 2014"
Loser: Hiram Mier
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Hiram Mier missed the 2014 Clausura due to an injury in the right knee, but he recovered and went back to Monterrey's starting XI for the current tournament.
Unfortunately, the centre-back left the match against Guadalajara after seven minutes due to an injury in the other knee.
The match was suspended in the 12th minute due to rain. The pitch was flooded, so the players talked to the referee and asked him to stop the match. Eventually it was called off.
The pitch's condition was a clear factor in Mier's departure.
He tweeted on Sunday that he would undergo tests on Monday.
"Mañana me harán los estudios de la rodilla, muchas gracias por sus mensajes. http://t.co/v6Vz0XneYB
— Hiram Mier (@HiramMier21) September 14, 2014"
Winners: Santos Laguna
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Santos Laguna is the only home team that won in Matchday 8.
Los Guerreros keep proving that they are one of the most powerful squads in the attacking zone. So far, Pedro Caixinha squad has 11 goals for and just five against.
Last weekend they defeated Leon 2-0. Darwin Quintero opened the score in the first half, and Jesus Alonso Escoboza put away the second in the injury time to secure Santos' fifth victory.
With this win Los Guerreros sit third in the general table, one place better than last matchday.
Losers: America
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Matchday 8 seemed to be a fantastic opportunity for America to get back to the winner's circle, when they faced Universidad de Guadalajara, the penultimate team on the general table.
America’s main issue against the Leones Negros came in the last third of the pitch. They created nine goal opportunities and 14 shots, as reported by Squawka.
However, Las Aguilas couldn't put the ball away, making this the third successive week they fail to score.
Although Antonio Mohamed's side still leads the tournament, they have two draws and one defeat in the past three games; plus, Monterrey are just one point away and with one match pending.
All stats appear courtesy of ESPN FC, unless otherwise noticed.
