The last matchday of the Clausura 2018 brought back the victory for America and Jérémy Ménez as a goal scorer, since thanks to a penalty from the Frenchman, the Eagles secured second place for the League playoffs in Liga MX.
After a month and a half off the pitch, Ménez made the most of his condition tonight by executing with total calmness from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute and giving the 1-0 victory to the Azulcremas over Santos, a match in which Cecilio Domínguez also made his comeback.
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— Club America (@ClubAmerica) April 29, 2018
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From the penalty spot pic.twitter.com/TMFcQkVRT7
The League playoffs were already a sure thing for both America and Santos, but second place was at stake with an "advantage" for the visitors, as a draw would have been enough for them. However, Robert Dante Siboldi's team confirmed that they are on a downward spiral by suffering their third consecutive defeat, while Miguel Herrera's team returned to the winning path after three matches and finished with 29 points, surpassing Monterrey and the laguneros themselves in goal difference.
It's not that America had a great game, they are still leaving doubts as they have been for over a month, but tonight they found themselves with a controversial penalty on Cecilio and with a couple of saves from Agustin Marchesin, as well as a glaring miss from Julio Furch in the small area with the game still goalless.
Santos started the game with the attacking initiative of Djaniny Tavares, who had the task of securing the top scorer title, but he remained at 14 goals, chased by Nicolas Castillo of Pumas with 11 goals.
The start of the second half was pure obligation for America, with the first truly dangerous play, Andrés Ibargüen shot across the goal without any marking, a good ball to be pushed in by Oribe Peralta, but the forward just watched the ball pass by the side of Orozco's goal.
Diego Laínez lamented a shot near the second post of the regio goalkeeper and it was the moment when Miguel Herrera brought in Ménez, the Frenchman came in for the American youth academy player. And with that substitution, the outlook for the local attack had a better appreciation.
America will have to wait for the result of Pumas this Sunday to know if they will face the felinos del Pedregal or Monarcas in the quarter-finals; Santos already knows today that the champion Tigres will be their opponent, with a home advantage for the laguneros.