LIGA MX
León hold historical advantage over América in Liga MX Liguilla playoffs
The Fiera have won out against the Coapa based side on three of the five occasions in which they have met in the playoff finals since 1996.
The Esmeraldas del León, according to statistics have an advantage over América ahead of what will be the sixth time that they will meet in the playoffs since the short tournaments (Clauursa and Apertura) seasons were introduced.
Leon have edged out America in three occasions beating the Aguilas in the Winter 1997, Apertura 2013 and Clausura 2019 with América winning in their meetings in Summer 2001 and Apertura 2015 championships.
History on León’s side
In the Winter of 1997, León defeated the “Águilas” with an aggregate score of 3-2. America secured a 1-0 first leg win with a goal from Ricardo Peláez, but in the second leg the Esmeraldas won 3-1 with goals from Misael Espinoza and two from Everaldo Bejines with the reply for America coming from from Argentine Sergio “Ratón” Zárate.
The second time that the Leonese side edged out the men from the capital was in the final of the Apertura 2013 when under coach Gustavo Matosas they ended up winning with a resounding aggregate score of 5-1. In that series, León won the first leg 2-0 with strikes from Carlos “Gullit” Peña and Mauro Boselli, while in the second leg the Leonese won the match at the Azteca 1-3 for a 5-1 aggregate with goals by Mauro Boselli, Ignacio González and Edwin Hernández.
Finally, León’s most recent victory was in the Clausura 2019 when under the command of Ignacio Ambriz they won the semifinals by position in the table since in the first game León won 1-0 with a goal by José Juan Macías and in the return leg América ran out winners with the same scoreline from a Bruno Valdez goal as La Fiera advanced.
The two America victories
The Summer 2001 tournament saw the CDMX side progress with an overall 5-2 despite the first leg being tied 1-1. In the return leg the “Águilas” let their hair down with a resounding 4-1 at the Azteca with two goals from the Chilean Iván Zamorano and two from the Colombian Franky Oviedo with Sigifredo Mercado scoring the consolation for the side in green.
The other America victory occurred in the Apertura 2015 season when under Nacho Ambriz they won the first leg 4-1 with goals from the Argentine Paolo Goltz, Paul Aguilar, Argentine Darío Benedetto and the Colombian Michael Arroyo, while Ignacio González was on target for León.
In the second leg, León won 2-1 with goals from Colombian Darío Burbano and Elías Hernández and América getting a reply through Benedetto, but in the end América ended up eliminating the ‘verdiblancos’ led by Argentine Juan Antonio Pizzi at the time.