In a tournament marked by ups and downs, the America players and their coach faced criticism regarding their performance and questions about their ability to reclaim the championship. However, on Sunday, they made history and silenced their detractors.
With a goal from Paraguay’s Richard Sánchez in the first half, America drew 1-1 against Monterrey to secure the Apertura title, becoming the first team to achieve a three-peats in the short tournament era.
Sánchez scored from outside the box in the 24th minute, and although Colombian Johan Rojas equalized in the 85th minute, America won the overall final with a combined score of 3-2.
“It tastes different because no one considered us favorites, not a single person in Mexican football believed in us, but inside we knew we were capable of being competitive,” said Brazilian coach André Jardine.
America has now claimed their 16th title in history, extending their lead over Chivas, their closest rival, who holds 12 championships.
Since the start of the two-tournament-a-year format in Mexico in 1996, America was one of four teams to have previously won back-to-back titles, along with Pumas, León, and Atlas, all of whom failed to achieve three consecutive titles.
This is the second three-peat in the history of America, with their first occurring from 1983 to 1985 in longer tournaments.
America’s historical win is significant as they had not secured any championships while finishing a series away from their home stadium until now.
“We said we would be the first to win a tournament away from home, and we did, making the biggest club in the country even greater,” declared Álvaro Fidalgo.
On their way to the championship, America entered the playoff stage after defeating Tijuana, then overcame second-seeded Toluca and league leader Cruz Azul before clinching the title against Monterrey, who finished fifth in the regular season.
“This was the toughest playoff of the three; we defeated three great rivals, but we provided a competitive performance,” Jardine noted. “This is a reward for the commitment and mental strength of the group.”
With this victory, America also avenged their previous loss against Monterrey in the 2019 Apertura final.
Monterrey, led by Argentine coach Martín Demichelis, saw their aim for a sixth title slip away.
Backed by their fans at Estadio BBVA in northern Mexico, Monterrey controlled possession early in the match but only managed one shot on target, which was handled comfortably by goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
America regained control of the game, almost scoring with a Henry Martín goal that was ruled offside at the 18-minute mark.
The Eagles took the lead when Sánchez capitalized on a chance just outside the area, scoring with a shot into the bottom right corner.
Montenegro responded with a shot from Germán Berterame that was deflected by Malagón.
During the second half, Monterrey continued to threaten, with John Stefan Medina’s header being saved by Malagón.
In the final twenty minutes, Monterrey brought on more attacking players, including Roberto de la Rosa, who narrowly missed with a low shot in the 72nd minute.
Montenegro finally equalized when Rojas drove into the area from the left and scored with a strike to Malagón’s left post.
Monterrey came close to scoring again with a header by Sebastián Vegas that hit the crossbar in the 87th minute.
Despite their late domination, Monterrey could not find the goal that would have sent the final into extra time.
This victory signifies a notable achievement for America, showcasing their resilience and ability to overcome challenges, and highlights the competitive spirit present in Mexican football. As they celebrate this historic win, fans can look forward to future successes from a team that has proven it can rise to the occasion when it matters most.