América was a two-faced team, with a poor first half, improved in the second, had the possibility of knocking out León, let them live and in injury time, when they had put more people to defend their advantage, they showed again defensive weaknesses that cost them the victory. A vibrant 2-2 that left a good taste.
The Águilas returned to the Azteca after the victories against Tigres and Chivas, two wins that reanimated them, but after the break for the FIFA Date, the Águilas' revolutions were not the same. And they were not the same because they were facing a team that in recent weeks has improved in its performance and is now one of the best in the championship.
La Fiera already has Larcamón's stamp, that coach who in the last Liguilla was cruelly punished by the Coapa team, now came to propose a very serious game with the esmeraldas.
The duel was played at a good pace, because both teams have the pedigree to go head to head, although the Águilas are the ones who suffer the most in defense, an area in which they have many difficulties, one in which the solutions do not seem to come.
Neither team hid, it was played from north to south, with periods of dominance for both, with goals disallowed for both and, also, with mistakes and bad decisions. But as the game progressed, it was the visitors who looked better, with Víctor Dávila and Roberto Alvarado being more incisive than Jonathan Rodríguez and Diego Valdés, the azulcrema players were very scattered, especially Cabecita who failed to make an impact on the left flank.
The Águilas were saved on a couple of occasions with balls that were cut off almost on the goal line, and Alvarado put the ball in when Malagón hesitated. Those lapses from the American defenders almost cost them a goal. And in attack, the azulcrema players lacked fluidity and good connections, but the game remained level and goalless.
However, in injury time came a good cross from Iván Moreno that Roberto Alvarado headed and beat Malagón. Lara failed in the marking because the Águilas defender lacked determination when going for the ball, something that the esmeraldas forward did have. La Fiera went to halftime with a deserved advantage, because they came to the Azteca to play bravely and without complexes.
A test of character for the Águilas in the second half, they were obliged to improve and come back in a tough match. Tano Ortiz did not take long to make adjustments, he tried to shake up the team with Zendejas for Suárez, Brian for a lost Cabecita, and Richard for Dos Santos.
Diego Valdés equalized in the 62nd minute, a play in which La Fiera claimed a handball by Israel Reyes after a corner kick, the ball fell to the Chilean who sent it into the net. The esmeraldas protested and a sui generis episode occurred when the referee, Fernando Hernández, kneed Lucas Romero in the wave of protests, but the goal stood.
And the game heated up when Henry turned it around in the 68th minute, the azulcrema captain made a great play from midfield, passed to Zendejas who crossed it back and La Bomba dived in with a header to give them the lead. The American pride emerged.
And yes, the game got tough when there were clashes on the bench, Larcamón ended up with a torn shirt. Tano Ortiz and Nicolás were sent off and exchanged many insults, with a challenge included, but nothing else happened afterwards.
The game ended from north to south, América could have finished it off on at least two occasions, but they lacked accuracy and León threw everything forward, and in injury time Néstor Araujo failed in the coverage, leaving Joel Campbell alone and the Costa Rican sealed the 2-2. A vibrant game with a taste of the Liguilla.