Liga MX Apertura semi-final return leg schedule: Teams, game dates and times
Four sides remain in contention for the Liga MX Apertura 2022 title with both semi-finals to be decided this weekend.
Pachuca and Toluca go into this evening’s Liga MX Apertura 2022 semi-final return leg holding advantages from last week’s first legs.
Favourites Club América lost 2-1 away at Toluca and it could have turned out even worse for Fernando Ortiz’s side - Camilo Sanvezzo had a goal ruled out by VAR which would have put the Azulcremas three goals behind. There was more good fortune moments later when Emilio Lara pulled a goal back which leave the tie wide open.
Monterrey have a mountain to climb after losing their semi-final first leg 5-2 to Pachuca. Nicolas Ibáñez bagged a hat trick and the Rayados’ misery was compounded further when Érick Aguirre was given his marching orders in the second half.
Both semi-finals will be decided this weekend when the return legs are played out
In the other semi-final, Monterrey will face Pachuca after Los Rayados overcame a stubborn Cruz Azul side at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer on Saturday night as Pachuca eliminated Tigres this depriving fans of a ‘Clásico Regio’ in the semifinals.
Liga MX Semi-finals, matches and dates: Apertura 2022
América (1) vs (6) Toluca
Las Águilas wrote another chapter in the Liga MX history books with their emphatic 11-2 aggregate score Puebla 11-2 with Fernando de Ortiz many peoples favourites to lift the Apertura 2022 title. But the Coapa side were stunned by surprise package Toluca, who brought their 14-game unbeaten run to an end in Wednesday’s first leg. Fernando Ortiz’s men have struggled at Estadio Nemesio Díez in recent years but beat Toluca in both of their last two meetings at home during the regular season so it won’t be entirely out of the question for them to turn the tie around in front of a partisan crowd at the Azteca.
Return leg: Saturday 22 October- América-Toluca at Estadio Azteca. (kick-off 20:06 hours local time/9:06 pm EDT/ 6:06 pm PDT)
Find out what time the América-Toluca game kicks off wherever you are in the world
Monterrey (2) vs (4) Pachuca
Rayados must overturn a three-goal deficit if they are to book their place in the final and give themselves the chance of clinching their fourth Apertura crown. Víctor Manuel Vucetich’s side have shown a dogged determination and are undefeated so far this season in Monterrey. They will need to call on that resilience, plus support from the home crowd to claw themselves back into the tie after suffering a 5-2 reverse to Pachuca in Thursday’s first leg. Guillermo Almada’s side go into the return leg in a commanding position and with a chance of a shot of their first Apertura title in almost 20 years. The last time both sides met in Monterrey during the regular season they played out a goalless draw.
Return leg: Sunday 23 October. Monterrey-Pachuca at Estadio BBVA Bancomer (kick-off 20:06 hours local time/9:06 pm EDT/ 6:06 pm PDT).