Canales lanza a Monterrey al frente contra América en cuartos de la Liga MX
When Sergio Canales curled that left-footed rocket into the top corner in the 45+3rd minute, the 45,000 fans at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe exploded. It wasn’t just a goal — it was a statement. Club de Fútbol Monterrey had just crushed its fiercest rival, Club América, 2-0 in the first leg of their Liga MX quarterfinal clash on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. And the twist? América, the most decorated team in Mexican football history, now needs to win by two goals at home just to stay alive. The pressure? It’s suffocating.
A Goal That Changed Everything
Canales, the 34-year-old Spanish playmaker who’s been quietly orchestrating Monterrey’s attack since 2023, didn’t just score — he broke América’s spirit. His strike, a curling left-footer from just outside the box, took a cruel deflection off Israel Reyes Rodríguez, América’s central defender, and slipped past goalkeeper Luis Ángel Cárdenas Martínez — wait, no, that’s not right. Cárdenas was in net for Monterrey. América’s keeper? He didn’t even get a clean glove on it. The ball kissed Reyes’ heel and looped into the far corner. It was the kind of goal that makes defenders question their careers. The stadium roared. The away section fell silent. Then, in the 70th minute, Fidel Ambriz López — the 26-year-old Mexican striker who’d spent most of the season on the bench — rose above Igor Lichnovsky, the 31-year-old Chilean center-back, to head home a Canales corner. Again, the ball didn’t go straight in. Lichnovsky tried to clear it, but his header was too weak. Ambriz, unmarked, didn’t miss. Two goals. Two assists from Canales. One team breathing fire. The other, barely breathing.América’s Nightmare: First Away Loss of the Season
América came into this tie with a perfect record away from home: four wins, four draws. No losses. No goals conceded in regulation on the road. Then came Wednesday. The Club América defense — once the envy of the league — looked rattled. Their star striker, Anthony Joran Martial, missed a sitter in the 87th minute, blasting a right-footed shot straight into the post from six yards. Fans in the stands groaned. Players on the bench buried their faces in towels. The same man who’d scored 18 goals in the regular season looked lost. And then, in stoppage time, América’s last real chance: Alejandro Zendejas broke through, cut inside, and fired. But Luis Ángel Cárdenas Martínez, Monterrey’s 27-year-old goalkeeper, didn’t even need to dive. He just swung his leg out — like a soccer player blocking a free kick — and the ball ricocheted harmlessly away. One shot on target. One save. One clean sheet. That’s all Monterrey needed.
The Return Leg: A Mountain to Climb
The second leg arrives Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Estadio de la Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City. Kickoff: 5 p.m. local time. América, who finished top of the table in the regular season, holds the tiebreaker advantage — but only if the aggregate ends level. Win by one goal? They’re out. Win by two? They survive. Win by three or more? They advance. But after losing 2-0 at home to Tigres last week? After being outplayed for 90 minutes by a Monterrey side that didn’t even need to play perfectly? The odds feel slimmer than a player’s jersey after a rainstorm. Even América’s own coach, Fernando Ortiz, admitted after the match: “We didn’t deserve to lose. But we did. And now we have to go to our own stadium and win by two. That’s not just pressure — it’s a sentence.”History, Hate, and High Stakes
This isn’t just another playoff series. It’s Club América vs. Club de Fútbol Monterrey — two giants with 13 and 5 league titles respectively. Their rivalry, born in the 1980s, has produced some of the most violent, emotional, and electric matches in Mexican football history. The 2025 clash is no exception. The last meeting, on September 20, ended 2-2 — a game that saw both teams trade blows and leave with bruises. But this? This was different. Monterrey didn’t just match América. They dominated. They outworked them. They outthought them. And the ripple effects? They’re already being felt. Tigres UANL, who lost 1-0 to Club León in their quarterfinal first leg, now need to win by three goals in the return leg just to stay alive. The entire bracket shifted on Wednesday night.
What’s Next?
If Monterrey holds firm in Mexico City, they’ll face either Club León or Tigres UANL in the semifinals. If América somehow pulls off the miracle? The entire narrative of the Apertura 2025 changes. The crowd at the Estadio de la Ciudad de los Deportes will be deafening. The TV ratings will break records. And the pressure on América’s players? It’ll be unbearable. For now, the momentum belongs to Monterrey. To Canales. To Cárdenas. To a team that didn’t just win a game — they broke a mindset.Frequently Asked Questions
How does this result affect América’s chances of winning the Apertura 2025?
América’s path to the title just got exponentially harder. They need to win the second leg by two clear goals — a feat they’ve only accomplished once in their last 12 away playoff matches. Even if they do, they’ll face a rested Monterrey side with home advantage in the semis. Their defense, which conceded just five goals in 17 regular-season games, now looks vulnerable. The psychological toll of this loss could linger.
Why is Sergio Canales so crucial to Monterrey’s success?
Canales, a former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad midfielder, brings elite technical control and vision to Monterrey’s midfield. He’s recorded 7 goals and 10 assists in 18 league games this season. More importantly, he’s the only player on the team who can consistently break América’s high press. His late goal in the first leg wasn’t luck — it was experience. He knew exactly where Reyes would be. He didn’t even look up.
What’s the significance of the Estadio BBVA crowd’s reaction?
The 45,000 fans at the Estadio BBVA created one of the loudest atmospheres of the season — especially after Canales’ goal. Monterrey’s home crowd is known for its intensity, but this was different. It felt like a turning point. Fans chanted for over 10 minutes after the final whistle. For a team that hasn’t won a league title since 2021, this kind of energy could be the spark that carries them to a sixth championship.
Has América ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in a two-leg playoff?
Yes — but only once in the last 25 years. In the 2002 Clausura semifinals, América overturned a 2-0 deficit against Toluca by winning the second leg 3-0. But that was a different era. Since 2010, no team has come back from a two-goal deficit in a two-leg playoff series in Liga MX. The last time it happened? 2005. The pressure, tactics, and defensive discipline today make it nearly impossible.
Who’s the favorite to win the Apertura 2025 now?
Monterrey is the clear favorite. They’ve got momentum, defensive solidity, and a manager in Domenec Torrent who’s won titles in Spain and knows how to handle high-stakes games. América’s attack looks disjointed, and their defense is rattled. Even if they win the second leg, they’ll face a rested, confident Monterrey in the semis. The balance of power has shifted — and it may not come back.
How did the weather and pitch conditions affect the game?
The weather was cool and dry, with temperatures around 18°C — ideal for technical play. The pitch at Estadio BBVA, recently re-laid with a hybrid grass system, was firm and fast. That favored Monterrey’s short-passing style and allowed Canales to dictate tempo. América, who rely more on long balls and physicality, struggled to find rhythm. The surface made it harder for them to recover defensively after losing possession.
