Monterrey 3(4)-(3)3 Tigres: Liguilla MX Fem Finals Roundup

In a heart-stopping final, Monterrey secured their fourth Liga MX Femenil title dramatically with a last-gasp equalizer and an agonizing penalty shootout victory over bitter rivals Tigres.

The setting was the BBVA Stadium, where a crowd of 50,008 fans witnessed an epic showdown between the two powerhouses of Mexican women’s soccer. With Tigres leading 3-2 on aggregate and seemingly in control, the match took an unexpected turn in the 97th minute when Katty Martinez, a former Tigres striker now playing for Monterrey, scored a miraculous goal to level the score at 3-3.

The Monterrey bench erupted in euphoria, embracing Martinez, who had been brought on as a substitute just 10 minutes earlier. The late equalizer kept Monterrey’s hopes of a second consecutive title alive and set the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout.

Liga MX Femenil Finals Second Leg: Monterrey vs. Tigres Betting Odds and Info

Match summary

Tigres came out firing on all cylinders, determined not to be satisfied with just a draw. Their offensive prowess was on full display in the last five minutes of the first half, as they capitalized on a pair of lethal counterattacks. Jacqueline Ovalle scored first in the 41st minute, followed quickly by Ana Dias in the 44th, giving Tigres a commanding 3-0 lead on aggregate.

The BBVA Stadium fell silent as the euphoria of the Monterrey faithful faded into silence. Las Rayadas now faced the daunting task of scoring three goals in the final 45 minutes to keep their championship hopes alive. As the players and fans headed into halftime, the air was thick with tension and pride seemed to fade.

Fortunately for Monterrey’s cause, they got the first of those much-needed goals just 6 minutes into the second half. Defender Tanna Sánchez, who had just entered the match, headed in a corner kick to make it 1-2.

Tigres were still reeling from that goal when the second fell. This time it was Spanish striker Lucía García who equalized the match at 2-2 at the BBVA Stadium and made it 2-3 on aggregate, taking advantage of a series of rebounds in the small area to score with an acrobatic scissor kick.

Just when the euphoria turned completely towards the home team, Tigres had a golden opportunity to put the final nail in the coffin. In the 80th minute, Dutch defender Merel Van Dongen committed a penalty on Jacqueline Ovalle, a decision that had to be confirmed by the VAR.

Ovalle, who has attracted the attention of European clubs such as Barcelona with her lethal left foot, stepped up to score the crucial penalty with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation time. A successful conversion would have essentially secured Tigres’ seventh title. However, experienced goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar, forged by years of playing in Europe, guessed right on Ovalle’s shot and made a crucial save to keep Monterrey alive.

Monterrey reacts

The euphoria turned completely towards the home team. Costa Rican coach Amelia Valverde brought on Katty Martinez, knowing that she had to pay for the penalty kick that drew her goalkeeper Tajonar with a third goal to tie the aggregate score.

As if it were a perfectly premeditated movie script, Martinez scored the 3-3 aggregate equalizer at the 90+8-minute mark, on the perimeter of what the referee, Katia Itzel Garcia, had added up to. The entire bench erupted in adrenaline to embrace the striker, who had come on 10 minutes earlier. With that last-gasp goal, Monterrey incredibly erased a 3-0 aggregate deficit and kept alive their hopes of claiming another championship.

Penalty shootout

The tension was palpable as the final whistle blew, and the teams prepared for the nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Katty Martínez advanced first for Monterrey, coolly slotting the ball into the net to give her team the lead. Jacqueline Ovalle equalized for Tigres, her powerful shot leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Rebeca Bernal regained the lead for Monterrey, but then the mistakes began to pile up. Jimena López, Myra Delgadillo, and Natalia Villarreal were unable to convert their shots in the box, while Pamela Tajonar’s effort was saved by the Tigres goalkeeper.

Stephany Mayor temporarily restored parity for Tigres, but Lucia Garcia and Anika Rodriguez scored their penalty kicks to put Monterrey back in front. With the shootout delicately balanced at 3-3, sudden death beckoned.

Merel Van Dongen stepped up and calmly converted her penalty kick for Monterrey, leaving Pamela Tajonar with a chance to keep Tigres alive. However, the experienced goalkeeper was on target and saved Ana Da Silva Seica’s effort, prompting wild celebrations from Monterrey’s players and coaching staff.

4th Monterrey Title

With their dramatic comeback from a 0-3 aggregate deficit, Monterrey’s Rayadas secured their fourth Liga MX Femenil title, cementing their status as one of the dominant forces in Mexican women’s soccer. This championship triumph marked a significant milestone, as they became only the second team in league history to win back-to-back titles, following in the footsteps of fierce rivals Tigres.

The Apertura 2024 triumph added to Monterrey’s previous wins in the Apertura 2019, Apertura 2021, and Clausura 2024 tournaments, cementing their position as the second most successful team in the league, behind only Tigres’ six titles. However, with their recent two-time champion feat, Las Rayadas have demonstrated their ability to sustain success over multiple seasons, a testament to the depth and quality of their team.