CF Monterrey took on Club América in the first leg of the Apertura final of Liga MX this week, and hoo buddy, what a game.
(For fans new to Liga MX — their season is divided into two parts, with two tournaments. The Apertura starts in the summer and concludes now, with the Clausera starting up shortly.)
The match was tied 1-1 in the 93rd minute, and it looked like the teams would go into the second leg of the final all square. Then the ball started bouncing in the América box, and landed on the chest of Monterrey’s Rogelio Funes Mori.
Then he had an absolute moment of magic.
A bicycle kick stoppage-time winner? Yes. Oh heavens yes.
América will be disappointed to enter the second leg down a goal. They fought admirably, even after going down to 10 men when Francisco Cordova was shown a red card in the 53rd minute. To defend that well for that long, down a man, only to give up a late goal like that? That stings.
The second leg of the final is this Sunday night.
