Rayados de Monterrey, with a goal from Spaniard Sergio Canales and an own goal from Chilean Igor Lichnovsky, put America on the ropes in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the The Apertura 2025 tournament playoffs, which allows them to go into the second leg next Saturday in Mexico City with a comfortable lead.

America, incredibly, with its great offense, paid dearly for only managing one shot on goal in the 90 minutes, letting Rayados take control of the game and even risking going down by three goals after the incredible miss by French striker Anthony Martial, who hit his shot off the base of the post.

Monterrey, with an aggressive formation, managed to put the Eagles on the back foot in a rain-soaked match, but this didn't affect the great spectacle on the pitch at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer in a high-level match befitting the playoffs for the title.

90+6: The first leg of the playoffs ends with a 2-0 victory for Monterrey over America

90+4: Yellow card for Iker Fimbres of Monterrey for a foul on Erick Sanchez.

90+2 minute: Luis “Mochis” Cardenas saves his goal with a point-blank shot to maintain Monterrey's 2-0 lead.

90th minute: Victor Davila entered the area on the right to cross into the heart of the box, and Erick Sanchez missed a golden opportunity for America.

88th minute: Yellow card for Gerardo Arteaga of Rayados for a foul on Kevin Alvarez.

85th minute: Substitution for Monterrey: German Berterame comes off and Roberto de la Rosa comes on.

84th minute: Substitution for America: Alvaro Fidalgo comes off and Erick Sanchez comes on.

83rd minute: Ohhhh, what a miss by Anthony Martial! The Frenchman's shot hits the base of Luis Malagon's post after a pass from Arteaga, which would have made it 3-0 for Rayados de Monterrey.

80th minute: Monterrey substitutions: Oliver Torres and Fidel Ambriz come off, and Iker Fimbres and Victor Guzman come on.

74th minute:Yellow card for Jose Zuniga of America for a foul on Fidel Ambriz.

72nd minute: Substitutions for America: Uruguayans Rodrigo Aguirre and Brian Rodriguez come off, and Chilean Victor Davila and Colombian Jose “Pantera” Zuniga come on.

70th minute: Goal for Monterrey! A shot by Fidel Ambriz is deflected by Chilean Igor Lichnovsky from a Canales cross to increase the lead to 2-0 over America.

63rd minute: Substitutions for Monterrey: Ricardo Chavez and Jesus “Tecatito” Corona come off, and Erick Aguirre and Frenchman Anthony Martial come on.

62nd minute: Yellow card for Uruguayan Rodrigo Aguirre of America for striking Spaniard Sergio Ramos of Rayados in the face.

Minute 56: Brian Rodriguez of America misses a chance to equalize on a counter-attack by Las Aguilas, with a cross-shot from the left that grazes the far post of the goal defended by Luis “Mochis” Cardenas.

47th minute: German Berterame misses a chance to score Rayados' second goal, failing to connect first-time with a cross into the box, which goalkeeper Luis Malagon managed to keep out.

45th minute: The second half begins with Rayados de Monterrey in the lead. They will look to extend their lead, while Las Aguilas try to pull one back or take the lead.

45+6 minute: The first half ends with Monterrey leading America 1-0.

45+2 minute: Goal for Rayados de Monterrey! A great cross-shot from Spaniard Sergio Canales takes a slight deflection off a defender on the left. Monterrey leads America 1-0.

-Minute 45: Regular time ends and five minutes of added time are played in the first half of the match between Rayados de Monterrey vs. America.

“Chupete” Suazo with his image supporting America

Humberto “Chupete” Suazo's presence at BBVA Stadium. Undoubtedly one of the great idols of the Monterrey team, he was the subject of several tributes prior to the match against America.

-37th minute: Yellow card for Ricardo “Rica” Chavez of Monterrey for a hard tackle on Uruguayan Brian Rodriguez of America.

31st minute: Controversial play in the America penalty area due to an alleged push by Sebastian Caceres on Gerardo Arteaga of Rayados de Monterrey.

23rd minute: The match between Monterrey and America remains very tight with the score at 0-0.

15th minute: Yellow card for Jesus “Tecatito” Corona for a reckless tackle that looked like a red card.

11th minute: Monterrey and America remain tied at 0-0 in a hard-fought match where Rayados have a greater attacking focus.

Malagon's tremendous save

America's goalkeeper Luis Malagon made a spectacular save to keep the Eagles' goal safe.

-Minute 2: Luis Malagon saves America with a brilliant save against German Berterame's header in Monterrey's first real attack.

-Minute 00:00: The match kicks off with a big surprise from Monterrey in goal, starting Luis "Mochis" Cardenas instead of Uruguayan Santiago Mele.

Monterrey pays tribute to Sergio Canales

Monterrey's Rayados honored Spaniard Sergio Canales for his first 100 matches with the club.

Monterrey and America's starting lineups

These are the starting lineups for Monterrey and America America

The Eagles are getting ready

The America players are warming up intensely to begin their match against Rayados de Monterrey in a few minutes, the opening game of the playoffs for the Liga MX Apertura 2025 title.

America's lineup

This is how America will line up against Rayados de Monterrey, with Chilean Igor Lichnovsky replacing Ramon Juarez and Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin absent. Uruguayan Brian Rodriguez will take his place, partnering his countryman Rodrigo Aguirre in attack.

The Eagles take to the field for their warm-up for the match vs. Monterrey

The Eagles are starting to warm up to face America in search of a victory as visitors against Rayados de Monterrey in the start of the quarterfinals of the 2025 Liga MX Apertura tournament playoffs.

Rain is present at the Gigante de Acero

The attendees of the match between Monterrey vs. America, at the start of the playoffs at BBVA Stadium, is dealing with the rain that has started falling in the vicinity of the "Gigante de Acero" (Steel Giant).

The tactical approach of Monterrey and America

This is how Rayados de Monterrey and America will line up on the field, looking to strike first in the playoffs in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the 2025 Apertura tournament.

–The lineup of Rayados de Monterrey

This is how Monterrey will take the field, where the notable absence is Argentine Lucas Ocampos due to a fractured wrist suffered in a household accident.

Recent history between Monterrey vs. America

These are the recent results between Monterrey and America ahead of their playoff match, which will kick off at 9:05 PM Central Time. (10:05 PM Eastern Time/7:05 PM Pacific Time).

America's arrival at the BBVA Stadium

The Eagles of America are already at the BBVA Stadium to prepare for the match against Rayados de Monterrey in the opening game of the playoffs for the title.

Argentine Jorge “Corcho” Rodriguez's impressions before facing America, highlighting that they must take advantage of their home field.

The Eagles' locker room at the BBVA Stadium

This is what the Eagles' locker room looks like before the match against Rayados in the opening game of the playoffs for the 2025 Apertura tournament title.

A comparison of the Rayados and Eagles' top scorers

This is the overview of the top scorers for both teams, where America will be without Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin and Rayados without Lucas Ocampos.

Rayados de Monterrey will be looking to strike first in the The Rayados de Monterrey locker room is ready to face America in the first leg of the Apertura 2025 quarterfinals, scheduled to take place at BBVA Stadium. The match will feature the fourth-place team against the fifth-place team in the standings.

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