América vs Tijuana’s Xolos in the Liga MX Play-In, on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation. Luis Ángel Malagón’s key saves in the shootout secured América’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Toluca. Cristian Borja’s last-minute equalizer was crucial in keeping América’s title defense alive.

America secures Liguilla spot: quick looks

• Dramatic equalizer: Cristian Borja scored in injury time to force penalties after a 2–2 draw.
• Penalty shootout: America had the upper hand, with Xolos missing three attempts to América’s two.
• Main artists: Luis Ángel Malagón’s clutch save in the shootout and Borja’s equalizer marked the match.
• Next match: America faces Toluca in the quarterfinals, starting on home court.
• Injury problems: Henry Martín left the match injured, raising questions about his availability.

Club América wins dramatic penalty shootout and advances to Liga MX QF

Deep look: América survives Xolos in penalties to advance

In a nail-biting Liga MX Play-In match, Club América defeated Tijuana’s Xolos on penalties, securing their place in the Liguilla quarter-finals. The reigning two-time Mexican champions showed resilience and perseverance, twice coming from behind in regulation to force a shootout that ended 3-2 in their favor.

Regulation time drama

The match started with Xolos grabbing momentum early. Unai Bilbao opened the scoring in the 15th minute, heading in a well-placed cross to give Tijuana a 1-0 lead. América struggled to find rhythm in the first half but came out strongly after the break, with Brian Rodríguez leveling the match just six minutes into the second half.

Xolos quickly regained the lead in the 53rd minute when José Zúñiga took advantage of a defensive error to give his team a 2–1 lead. The goal looked set to seal the match, but América pressed on relentlessly.

In stoppage time, Cristian Borja scored a crucial equalizer, firing home the ball in the 91st minute to send the match to penalties. Borja’s effort underlined América’s determination to stay in the title hunt.

The shootout

The penalty shootout was an exciting affair. Both teams missed critical chances, but Xolos faltered with three missed attempts, compared to two from América. Goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón emerged as the hero for América, making crucial saves to tip the balance in his team’s favor.

Malagón’s composure and sharp reflexes in goal played an important role in América’s progress and underlined his value in high-pressure situations.

Key artists and turning points

While América celebrated their triumph, the match was not without setbacks. Henry Martín, a crucial player for the team, left the match injured and expressed concerns about his availability for the upcoming quarter-final.

What is the future for America and Xolos

América now prepares to face Toluca in the quarter-finals of the Liga MX, with the first leg taking place at Estadio Azteca before concluding at Toluca’s Estadio Nemesio Diez. The clash promises to be intense as both teams look to claim dominance in the play-off stages.

Meanwhile, Xolos must quickly regroup for a decisive match against Atlas, with the winner securing the eighth and final spot in the Liguilla. The winner will face Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals, guaranteeing another round of high-stakes action.

Match overview

Goals:

Final score:
America 2 (3) – (2) 2 Xolos

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