Monterrey concedes Tigres on penalties to become Liga MX Femenil champions

Monterrey beat Tigres 3-1 on penalties to become the new champion of women’s soccer in Mexico on Monday night.

The draw ended 2-2 on aggregate in two legs of the 2021 Apertura final, with the Rayadas ultimately winning from place.

Monday’s final initially proved to be a tense and dramatic match at the sold-out Estadio Universitario.

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In a goalless first half, Monterrey focused on stopping the opponent’s attacks while Tigres took more risks and rushed forward. Although Tigres supposedly had a better chance in the first 45 minutes — and also hit the woodwork — Monterrey’s Desiree Monsivais had a chance at close range but was missed by the keeper. Tigres’ Cecilia Santiago makes a great save.

After the whistle to end the first half, the game began to open as both sides tried to find the decisive goal. Along with Santiago’s acrobatics against Tigres, Monterrey’s goalkeeper Alejandria Godinez also featured brilliant saves that kept everything 0-0 in the second leg.

In the end, Godinez became the star of the evening as the final took place on penalties.

With two saves in the penalty shootout, the 27-year-old keeper choked the Tigres players and helped Monterrey seal a 3-1 victory in the penalty shootout.

“It’s something that we’ve been doing since the beginning of the knockout round. We knew it was a possibility,” Godinez told TUDN of the penalty shootout. “Everybody was mentally prepared for that case.

“When we did the penalties, we were all very calm,” Monterrey’s Mariana Cadena told TUDN. “Why? Because we trust each other, because we trust that Alex [Godinez] will stop the punishments she stopped, because that’s the unity we have. “

The Liga MX Femenil championship is the second title for Monterrey since their first title in Apertura 2019.

After a short break, the next season will begin on January 7 for women’s professional football in Mexico.