Club America wins the Liga MX Clausura title

Club America won the Liga MX Clausura final second leg, an instant classic, scoring two late goals to steal the title away from Cruz Azul and send the game into extra time. The home side prevailed on penalties and took the championship with a 2-1 win on the night (2-2 aggregate) and 4-2 win in penalty kicks.

America came out flying, needing at least one goal after entering the game with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The Aguilas were pressuring Cruz Azul well, but a moment of individual skill changed the game. Pablo Barrera surged past two defenders, forcing Jesus Molina to drag him down. The referee determined Molina was the last man back and sent off the America defender in just the 14th minute.

Just five minutes later, it was another brilliant individual play that gave Cruz Azul the lead. The visitors struck with a lightning-quick break that sent Teo Gutierrez in, and the Colombian held off Aquivaldo Mosquera to fire a well-placed strike just inside the far corner.

Cruz Azul appeared to have the game sewn up, but a dramatic final few minutes sent the Estadio Azteca into raptures.

First, in the 88th minute, Mosquera got on the end of a lofted cross by Christian Bermdez and headed inside the back post to put his team within one.

There was more drama to come. With just seconds left in injury time, America goalkeeper Moises Munoz, who was up for a corner kick, got a diving header on a cross. Cruz Azul midfielder Alejandro Castro stuck out a toe and made an absolutely vital and completely cruel deflection which took the ball over the diving Jesus Corona.

Liga MX doesn't use away goals, so the game headed to extra time, where neither team was able to score. The final went to penalties.

In the shootout, Cruz Azul's Javier Orozco saw his team's first penalty saved, before his teammate Castro completed his awful night by slipping on his PK, sending the ball well off target. America converted all four of its spot kicks, and Miguel Layn sealed the team's victory.

America is tied with Chivas on 11 first division titles.
Via: Club America wins the Liga MX Clausura title