Only three matchdays in Liga MX remain before the start of the playoffs for the 2022 Apertura.
Already qualified for the playoffs are Club America, currently sitting at the top of the table after making some history this weekend. Monterrey and Pachuca also already have their Liguilla invites through recent victories of their own.
Santos Laguna have secured their playoff spot as well, although the bigger news surrounding them is their stunning injury time equalizer from goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo on Saturday. Bizarrely enough, Acevedo wasn’t the only goalkeeper to score a late injury time equalizer on the same day as Pumas’ Julio Gonzalez also found the back of the net.
Goalkeeper goals included, there’s plenty to cover from Week 14, so in case you missed anything, here are three talking points and some additional observations.
– Liga MX standings | Liga MX coverage on ESPN Deportes
– Futbol Americas on ESPN+: MLS, Liga MX, USMNT, El Tri
Not one, but two, injury-time goals by keepers
In what could possibly be a first in world soccer, two goalkeepers from the same league scored injury-time equalizers on the same day.
The unpredictable chain of events on Saturday began with Santos Laguna‘s Carlos Acevedo in an away match against Queretaro. His side down a goal, the Mexican goalkeeper stepped up during a corner for Santos in the 100th minute. Chasing a flicked header from teammate Fernando Gorriaran, Acevedo made contact with the ball and headed in a goal that cemented a surprising 3-3 tie.
⚽️🚀¡GOOOOOOOL DE ACEVEDO! 🧤
⚽️🚀¡GOOOOOOOL DE ACEVEDO! 🧤
⚽️🚀¡GOOOOOOOL DE ACEVEDO! 🧤¡¡¡Acevedo empata el partido sobre la hora!!! 😱😱
🐓 3 – 3 😇
🔴 EN VIVO
📺 TUDN
🔗 https://t.co/3XXxEB9ra1 pic.twitter.com/ykOGFbj6ME— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 11, 2022
Hours later, it was Julio Gonzalez’s turn. Seeking redemption for his error that gifted Toluca an early lead, the Pumas goalkeeper ran up during a corner in the 96th minute. With star signing Dani Alves providing a perfectly lobbed cross, Gonzalez headed in the ball to clinch a 2-2 away draw for Pumas.
Goooooolazoooo de PUMASSSSS🔥😱🔥
Lo empata Pumas en el último minuto y se acaba el partido.
👿 2- 2🐾
🔴 EN VIVO
📺 TUDN
🔗https://t.co/7WWDTqVb8j#TuApertura2022 pic.twitter.com/JbjNWDyNId— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 11, 2022
Two goals, scored by two goalkeepers — the first time ever in a Liga MX matchday.
“We didn’t deserve to lose, I had a really awful mistake,” said Gonzalez about his error before salvaging the night with a goal. “Scoring the goal as I did, saves the game.”
To add even more of a coincidence to Gonzalez and Acevedo scoring, both goalkeepers came up through the Santos academy.
Cloud nine: Club America set win-streak mark
Even without a few key players due to injuries, suspensions and squad rotation, Club America made history last Saturday by claiming a 2-1 away victory over Necaxa that set a new team record for consecutive victories with nine in a row.
Initially down 1-0 when Necaxa scored in the eighth minute, Las Aguilas would eventually bounce back with second half goals from midfielder Jonathan dos Santos and forward Roger Martinez that helped secure the club record.
