MIAMI, Florida – The 2021 Liga MX Apertura Liguilla is now down to the final four following the results of the weekend in which 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League sides Club Leon and Pumas advanced to the semifinal round, along with 2020 SCCL champions Tigres and Atlas.
Club Leon were staring at a 2-1 deficit on aggregate in their quarterfinal with Puebla, but got a pair of goals from Angel Mena in the 25’ and from the penalty spot in the 80’ to edge Puebla 3-2 in the series.
Meanwhile, Pumas were faced with the daunting task of going into the Estadio Azteca against Club America following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, and they came through it with flying colors in a 3-1 comeback win.
Emanuel Aguilera gave Las Aguilas a 1-0 lead with a penalty conversion in the 11’, but Washington Corozo would turn the tables with two goals before halftime in the 29’ and 42’ off assists from Alan Mozo. Higor Meritao then completed the rally with a late header in the 82’ for the 3-1 Pumas win.
Fellow 2022 SCCL participant Santos Laguna nearly reached the semifinals as well, but succumbed to a late Carlos Salcedo strike in the 82’ that gave Tigres a 1-0 second leg win, making for a 2-2 draw on aggregate. The Felinos advanced thanks to having a higher regular season finish than the Torreon-based club.
Rounding out the list of semifinalists is title-hungry Atlas, who are seeking their first league crown since the 1950-51 season. A 0-0 scoreless draw in Monterrey set the stage for a dramatic second leg in Guadalajara, and a Julio Furch penalty conversion in the 18’ was enough to send Atlas to the next round, despite an Arturo Gonzalez equalizer in the 73’.
As the team with the better regular season record, Atlas advance after the 1-1 aggregate draw.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs also continued over the weekend, and while 2022 SCCL sides Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids were eliminated in midweek, three sides booked their places in the semifinal round.
Real Salt Lake’s dream postseason run continued with a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City. Just three days after eliminating Seattle in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw, Real Salt Lake got goals from Anderson Julio (72’) and Bobby Wood (90+1’) to rally from a 1-0 deficit for the win.
There was also late drama for the Portland Timbers, who reached the final four thanks to Larrys Mabiala’s goal in the 90’ to edge top-seeded Colorado 1-0 last Thursday. Portland will face Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Final this Saturday.
The Philadelphia Union are also through to the semifinals with a 2-0 penalty shootout victory following a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC. Union GK and Jamaica international Andre Blake made two saves to help the Union emerge triumphant from the spot kicks.
Philadelphia’s opponent in the Eastern Conference Final will be decided on Tuesday when 2022 SCCL participant the New England Revolution meet New York City FC.
