“You can never count América out,” says Henry Martín

Club América have work to do if they are to make it through to the final of the Liga MX Clausura, facing a 1-0 first leg deficit against Cruz Azul.

The first game was played at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, with Ignacio Rivero scoring the only goal of the game for Cruz Azul. They finished the Clausura just one point apart in the standings and there is very little to choose between the two teams.

Speaking to reporters after the first leg loss, América star Henry Martin made clear that his team are still very much in the running to make to the showpiece final.

“You can never count América out,” Martín insisted. “I think we’re more alive than ever. We’ve come back from tough moments before, and we believe we can do it again.”

The first leg was a game marked with controversy, primarily a potential handball that was not called on Cruz Azul midfielder Erik Lira. Martín revealed that he had though that

“I haven’t seen the video yet,” he said. “On the field, everything happens so fast. It looked like a hand to all of us, and that’s why we protested. But I don’t know if it was actually punishable — I’d need to see it again.”

“Matches against Cruz Azul are always intense, very even in terms of chances,” said assistant coach Paulo Rodrigues, who took the team after América head coach André Jardine was ejecte. “This one came down to a set-piece. We pushed hard with the man advantage late on, but they defended well in a deep block. Now we prepare to turn it around at home.”

Despite the one-goal deficit there is everything still to play for when the two teams meet at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes on Sunday evening. In the other semi-final Toluca and Tigres UANL will meet at Estadio Nemesio Díez with the scores tied at 1-1.

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