MEXICO CITY –
Surrounded by controversy, América celebrates a brand new title in Mexico after beating Cruz Azul 1-0 within the remaining of the Clausura match.
When further time was looming on the Azteca stadium, referee Marco Antonio Ortiz scored a penalty by Argentine Rodolfo Rotondi on Israel Reyes and Henry Martín scored the championship objective from the eleventh minute within the 78th minute.
On the play, Rotondi slid in entrance of Reyes and touched him frivolously earlier than the defender fell to the grass. Ortiz didn’t hesitate to level out the penalty and later confirmed it when reviewing the play on the VAR.
WAS IT CRIMINAL?
The play is so shut that, on the debate tables, the previous referees don’t agree on whether or not he ought to have scored or not.
“It is the liveliness of the gamers, I benefit from the truth that you’re giving your self and loosen up your physique,” stated Brazilian coach Ricardo Ferreti in his evaluation for ESPN.
Rotondi arrived in Mexico as a ahead, however ended up as a winger within the scheme of Argentine coach Martín Anselmi.
“It’s a play that can’t outline a remaining, that’s the place the anger comes from,” Rotundi commented. “However now I’ve to come back again stronger, I really feel helpless. “I am unable to speak anymore in order to not obtain a positive.”
Ultimately, América achieved the fifteenth title in its historical past, consolidating itself as probably the most profitable crew within the nation. They surpass their traditional rival Chivas, which has 12. Las Águilas had been two-time champions for the final time within the 1988-89 season after they beat Cruz Azul.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AMERICA?
In current months, sports activities president Santiago Baños achieved contract extensions with the membership’s most essential gamers, together with Martín, Chilean midfielder Diego Valdés and goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
The one doubt revolves across the continuity of ahead Julián Quiñones. In line with a number of press studies, the naturalized citizen of Colombian origin has presents to to migrate to Saudi Arabia.
“If I depart, I depart pleased as a result of I met all of the expectations each individually and collectively and I depart one thing to this establishment that will likely be remembered for a lifetime,” stated Quiñones. “I am leaving pleased, I did every part they requested of me and I gave my all.”
Along with changing that eventual departure, Baños has a overseas participant spot left by Uruguayan Jonathan Rodríguez, who left for the MLS mid-tournament.
Native media speculate that the Spanish Álvaro Fidalgo would additionally return to Europe, though the midfielder has evaded questions on his future.
AND FOR CRUZ AZUL?
The long run appears shiny for the celestials who present in Anselmi the coach they’d been on the lookout for for years.
La Maquina jumped from sixteenth place to second place and performed its first remaining since Clausura 2021 even if the management didn’t make any main signings. His greatest reinforcement for this match was the Uruguayan Gabriel Fernández, who tore the cruciate ligament in his proper knee in February and missed the remainder of the championship.
Fernández doesn’t have a date to return, however the blue management has time to search for a middle ahead to accompany Ángel Sepúlveda. Anselmi at occasions had to make use of Uriel Antuna as a 9 within the absence of a participant with these traits.
By ending second within the standings, Cruz Azul additionally secured a spot within the CONCACAF Champions Cup, so it must add gamers to provide it bench depth to compete within the two tournaments.
