After a short international break, the Liga MX is back! In Jornada 12 of the Clausura 2022 season, the Mexican top flight featured another impressive performance from André-Pierre Gignac with Tigres, a late but vital victory for Club America, an important goal from a young Mexican international for Cruz Azul, And much more.
In case you missed any of the action, here are three talking points and some other tidbits from Week 12 of Liga MX.
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Tigres and Gignac take top spot in Liga MX for the first time this season
It seemed inevitable, but after picking up their eighth win in their last nine Liga MX fixtures, the Tigers finally took the top spot in the standings. Unsurprisingly, Tigres living legend Gignac, who scored in the 74th minute of the win, led the charge to a 2-0 win on Sunday against Club Tijuana.
Although there have been fears that at 36 he may be out of his prime, there is no doubt about the form of the French striker who now has 10 goals and one assist in his nine last matches of Liga MX.
Goal for Tigres! 🐯🌋✨
Who else? André Pierre Gignac scores his 10th goal of the tournament 🔥🔥⚽️@TigresOfficial 2-0 @Xolos
FR VIVO 🔴 https://t.co/LnvL2wKnO2#TuClausura2020 pic.twitter.com/X2eVDfeD1v
– TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) 4 avril 2022
Of course, Gignac wasn’t the only star on the show. Although Club Tijuana didn’t make it easy, Gignac’s top Tigres teammates like Florian Thauvin, Juan Pablo Vigon, Luis Quiñones, Guido Pizarro, Javier Aquino and Nahuel Guzman all contributed their own efforts in the result. .
“In my opinion, the Tigres have the best line-up in Mexican football,” Sebastian Mendez, a dejected Club Tijuana coach, said after the game, rubbing his head knowing he couldn’t do much against the Tijuanas. title contenders who had scored twice in the match. Second part.
A late but vital win for Club America
In the post-Santiago Solari era for Liga MX giants Club America, all that mattered was getting the much-needed points that would lift them from the bottom of the standings. Interim manager Fernando Ortiz did just that, with an important but nervous 1-0 away win on Saturday night against Necaxa.
For 90 minutes that featured a lack of possession against Necaxa and some crucial saves from Club America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, Ortiz and his men would eventually slip away with three points after a Diego Valdes goal in the 91st minute.
America’s ¡Gooooool!🦅🔥
Diego Valdéz scores and celebrates with Fernando Ortíz 🙏@ClubNecaxa 0-1 @ClubAmerica
FR FR LIVE! https://t.co/8BEiF8P4Of
📺 KNOW #TuClausura2022 | #SoccerSaturday pic.twitter.com/ymJYH499DA
– TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) 3 avril 2022
“I promised myself not to crack,” Ortiz said at the postgame press conference, who had just lost his mother earlier in the week. “I found in my players and in the people around me, they are my family. Losing a mother and being away, like any other child, hurts, hurts a lot, but I’m happy that she’s watching from above that I’m doing what makes me happy. »
The victory, which follows a 3-0 victory on March 20 against Toluca, helped lift Club America from the depths of the league table.
Mexico international Santiago Gimenez carries Cruz Azul to 1-0 victory
He may not have gained any minutes for Mexico during the recent international break as a bench player, but after being placed in Cruz Azul’s starting XI for just the second time this season, the 20-year-old striker Santiago Gimenez needed 37 minutes to make his mark for Cruz Azul on Saturday.
With a first-half goal of a 1-0 victory over current holders Atlas, Gimenez not only provided three points for Cruz Azul, but also some hope for the attacking situation of the club. Mexican men’s national team.
⚽🔵🔥 Goool of @Blue Cross!
⚽🔵🔥 Goool of @Blue Cross!
⚽🔵🔥 Goool of @Blue Cross!Santiago Giménez liquidates a Camilo Vargas with a brutal header 👏👏👏👏
FR FR LIVE! https://t.co/lTHTjLduNp
📺 KNOW #TuClausura2022 | #SoccerSaturday pic.twitter.com/yjx9fqE1ch
– TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) 2 avril 2022
Barring an unexpected return from LA Galaxy’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who scored his fourth goal in his last five MLS games on Sunday, Mexico will need more Sorting Backup options for Raul Jimenez as Gimenez to be fit in a World Cup year.
As for Cruz Azul, their season remains erratic with six wins, two draws and four losses so far. There is clearly still room for improvement in a team that has yet to return to the heights of its Liga MX championship as of Clausura 2021.
Additional notes
– In other Week 12 results: A second-half goal from John Murillo propelled San Luis to a 1-0 win at home to Mazatlan, Pumas earned a narrow 1-0 away win over FC Juarez, Puebla stumbled on their second defeat in their last three games with a 2-1 loss to Toluca, Leon secured a 1-1 draw against Querétaro, while Santos Laguna continued their gradual rise in the standings with a 3-1 win over Pachuca.
– Believe it or not, due to a couple of Coldplay shows having an impact on the pitch at the Estadio Akron, Chivas’ game against Monterrey has been postponed to April 13.
– The CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals begin this week with the Pumas of Liga MX against Cruz Azul on Tuesday and the Seattle Sounders of MLS against New York City FC on Wednesday. The return matches, which will be played next week, will define the participants in the CCL final. Liga MX teams have played 13 consecutive seasons with a CCL title, a record that climbs to 16 trophies including the Champions Cup era.
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