Club América 2-1 Monterrey, summary, score, goals, highlights, Liga MX 2023 Clausura

FT: America 2-1 Rayados

Goals from Valdes and Viñas help America to a morale boosting win as Monterrey suffer their second defeat of the 2023 Clausura campaign. 

The whistle sounds and America hang on to record a vital win.

The Argentine will now miss the next game vs Santos Laguna.

Andrada sent off as he handles well out of his box.

Not a great night for the Argentine stopper.

Corner for Rayados and possibly the last action of the game.

Rayados now applying all the pressure as they look for the equaliser.

Valdes makes way for Araujo

Seven minutes of time to be added

Rojas to take....

The man from Ecuador strikes right footed and misses as he strikes the ball tamely at Malagon.

Caceres carded for the foul as the Colombian lies injured on the pitch.

Who will step up as VAR confirms the penalty kick.

Spot kick for Monterrey as Vergara weaves through a series of yellow shirts.

Final five minutes at the Azteca. 

Can Rayados find a way back? 

This result would propel America back into third position.

Meza off for Rayados as Rojas takes his place

The game has increased in intensity as Rayados up the tempo as they stare their second defeat of the season in the face.

America 2-1 Rayados

Fine one-two between Valdes and Viñas who celebrates with huge gusto.

Henry Martin off for America as Viñas is on with the sub already booked for a comment to the referee earlier during the game.

The second half has lacked the high tempo and intensity that we enjoyed in the first 45'.

Monterrey seem to be content with the point that would mathematically see Vucetich's men to secure a top four place.

Changes for America:

Leonardo Suárez amd Brian Rodríguez on for Alejandro Zendejas and Jonathan Rodríguez

Changes for Monterrey: Funes Mori and Gonzales off Vergara and Cortizo on

America almost go in front as the ball ricochets into Andrada's hands.

Zendejas is back on the pitch.

Looks like the player has a broken nose and may not be able to continue.

Zendejas in trouble with blood streaming from his nose after a clash with Gallardo after the Monterrey man clipped the America man with his elbow accidentally. 

The player is now getting treated by the America medical staff.

We pass the hour mark and the first signs of tiredness are starting to appear as the tempo in the action has dropped slightly.

Fidalgo almost puts Monterrey back in front but Malagon gets down to save well.

Better last five from the visiting side.

Moreno and Ortiz off for Rayados.

Aguirre and Vegas on.

Monterrey changes

Great delivery from the left channel but neither Valdes or Martin could latch onto the ball.

America well on top with Monterrey struggling to get into the rhythm of this second half.

Club America players warming up with a series of changes imminent for the home side.

The game adopting a pattern similar to what we saw in the first 45'. America dominating possession and Monterrey looking dangerous on the counter.

Off we go. Monterrey start the second 45'.

The Diego Valdes goal for America

Maxi Meza and Diego Valdes on target in a lively first 45 minutes.

The whistle sounds at the Azteca with the game tied at the interval.

We'll have 4 minutes of added time.

The goal has ignited America who are now very much in control.

Final five of the first half with no let-up to the action and incident at the Azteca.

America 1-1 Rayados

What a mistake from Andrada as the Argentine looks to keep the ball in play but leaves the ball in Valdez's path as the Chilean striker taps into an empty net.

Another flashpoint as Medina and Rodriguez tangle in the box. America look for a spot kick after the Uruguayan goes to ground.

Big call from America players and the home fans for a spot kick as Martin is upended in the box. 

Moreno connects with both the ball and player at the same time. A VAR check confirms that no illegal play from the Monterrey man and we're back in action.

We're past the half hour mark and Monterrey looking good for their lead. Solid at the back and menacing on the break with America a little pedestrian and predictable with their build-up play.

Moreno carded as he clips Martin in the back.

The Mexican international is the first booking of the game.

Funes Mori does well in getting a shot off but the keeper saves well and then the flag is shown after the move.

Medina almost steers the ball into his own net and from the next passage of play following the corner America go close as Andrada almost slips up with a man in a yellow jersey ready to pounce.

Monterrey have looked dangerous on the counter.

Zendejas almost equalises for America but what a fine stop from Andrada.

America 0-1 Rayados

What a break from the visitors as Meza finishes from a rebound from a save from the America keeper. 

The Argentine was alert and his finish from the edge of the box was sublime.

A win or draw would mathematically see Rayados confirmed as one of the top four sides in the 2023 Liga MX Clausura. 

America firing crosses in from both flanks but at present nothing to trouble Andrada who is level to each delivery.

What a great chance from Monterrey as Gonzalez almost opens the scoring with a fine scissor kick which Layun intercepts. Corner for Rayados.

Solid start from America as they start to dominate possession with Monterrey pegged back and forced to defend.

Great chance for America as Rodriguez forces a fine stop from Andrada and the home side win the first corner of the night.

Early pressure from Rayados as Maxi Meza does well with some trickery and the visitors just fail to capitalise on the attack.

Off we go in the Azteca as America start the action.

No Fernando Ortiz on the America bench tonight with the head coach serving a suspension and is forced to watch the game from the stand.

A draw for America would be enough to push the home side back into a fourth spot and avoid the banana skin that is the repechage. 

The teams take to the pitch at the Azteca.

Decent crowd present at the iconic stadium in the Mexican capital.

Liga MX 'live' table

Here's how the table (Top 12) looks after the early games on Saturday.

The top four sides head straight into the liguilla with teams from 5th-12th having to play the play-in/wild card round.

FT in El Volcan as Mazatlan shock Tigres with a 1-2 win.

Tigres miserable form continues and Mazatlan record their second win of the season.

FT: Leon 0-0 Club Azul.

Leon stay in 3rd position with the point as Cruz Azul sit in 8th place

Both America and Rayados players are warming up as fans continue to stream into the Estadio Azteca as kick-off looms.

America's problem this season has been a lack of regularity with too many drawn games for Las Aguilas. The side from the capital did endure a humbling 0-3 home defeat against Pachuca in matchday 10.

Rayados come into tonight's contest on the back of four wins which include an impressive 0-1 win at Pachuca with Los Tuzos being the reigning Apertura 2022 champions. 

Vucetich's side also beat Tigres UANL in the derby with 'Los Felinos' undergoing a dip in form at present having lost three in a row.

Pedro Aquino, Jurgen Damm and Roger Martinez are all absent for Fernando Ortiz tonight with Aquino and Martinez sidelined through illness and injury respectively with Damm playing with the America U-20 side. 

The Club America XI has been announced with Henry Martin and Diego Valdes set to lead the attack for the home side. 

America dressing room is ready

As we await the confirmation for the starting XI for the home side, America will sport their classic light yellow shirts and shorts for today's Liga MX clash at the Estadio Azteca.

Last 10 league meetings

Apertura 2022 | Monterrey 3 – 2 América
Clausura 2022 | Monterrey 2 – 1 América
Apertura 2021 | América 0 – 0 Monterrey
Clausura 2021 | Monterrey 1 – 0 América
Apertura 2020 | América 1 – 3 Monterrey
Clausura 2020 | Monterrey 0 – 1 América
Apertura 2019 | Final Vuelta | América 2 – 1 Monterrey
Apertura 2019 | Final Ida | Monterrey 2 – 1 América
Apertura 2019 | América 4 – 2 Monterrey
Clausura 2019 | Monterrey 3 – 2 América

Rayados XI confirmed

Víctor Manuel Vucetich has named his Rayados team for the clash at the Azteca with Germán Berterame and Funes Mori set to lead the attack for the visitors.

Rayados arrive at the Azteca

Smiles all round as a relaxed looking Monterrey squad arrive at the Estadio Azteca ahead of tonight's clash.

America-Rayados: referee

Victor Alfonso Caceres Hernandez has been selected to officiate tonight's game at the Estadio Azteca with the Chiapas born referee having overseen just four games in the current 2023 Clausura this season.

Rayados currently hold a ten point lead over America in the standings with just four games remaining in the regular season.

All set in the Rayados dressing room

Monterrey will wear their second kit tonight at the Azteca as they look for the win that would as good as mathematically see them confirmed as one of the four top sides for the 2023 Clausura play-off.

The last meeting between the two giants of Mexican football at the Azteca was back in March 2022 when Monterrey ran out 1-2 winners with Rayados winning 4 of the last 5 games against the team from CDMX. 

Monterrey still lead the way in the 2023 Clausura table with 34 points from their 13 games with Victor Manuel Vucetich's side having only tased defeat once during the campaign.

Las Aguilas have only fallen once too during the Clausura but have recorded six draws in their 13 games and currently lie in 5th place in the table with just four games to go in the regular season.

Hello and welcome to our live Liga MX coverage as Los Rayados from Monterrey are the visitors at the Estadio Azteca tonight.