América failing to silence the doubters

What was supposed to be a routine Week 4 clash turned into a drawn-out ordeal in the Noche Buena neighborhood. Scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. local time, the match between Club América and Querétaro didn’t get underway until 8:46 p.m. due to adverse weather and lighting issues at the stadium. And while the home side came away with the win, their brand of soccer continues to leave much to be desired.

Here’s how the action unfolded:

First half

It didn’t take long for América to get on the board. Just four minutes in, Dagoberto Espinoza - eager to stake his claim for a starting spot - received the ball, threw in a couple of feints, and broke into the box before slotting home with a toe-poke finish that left goalkeeper Fernando Allison with no chance. The early goal forced Querétaro to abandon their defensive posture almost immediately.

From there, América dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances - a recurring theme this season. The next notable moment came in the 40th minute, when a wayward shot was controversially deemed a handball in the box. After a quick VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot. Captain Henry Martín stepped up to take the penalty, but Allison guessed correctly and made the save, keeping the scoreline tight and adding to Martín’s recent woes in front of goal.

Second half

Querétaro nearly found themselves in deeper trouble in the 50th minute when Eduardo Armenta slid in from behind on Erick Sánchez. Initially shown a red card, Armenta was spared by VAR, which downgraded the foul to a yellow.

América didn’t threaten again until the 61st minute. Brian Rodríguez whipped in a cross to the far post, where Alejandro Zendejas met it with a left-footed strike. Allison, once again, came up big with a reflex save to keep his team in the game.

As time ticked away, the lack of goals began to frustrate the crowd, who responded with boos and jeers. The stagnant play also gave Querétaro hope. They pushed forward late, looking for an equalizer, and nearly found it in the 78th minute. A break down the right flank caught América’s defense off guard, but goalkeeper Luis Malagón came up clutch with a diving save to preserve the lead.

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