Photo Credit: Mexsport
Los Angeles, CA | Nov 29 | Kelly Landaverde – @Kel_landaverde
The Clásico Regiomontano will decide who advances, if “Tigres” will get their third star this time in the “Apertura”, or if the “Rayadas” gets their first after losing against them in two editions of the “Clausura”. Two of the biggest teams in women’s soccer in Mexico will face each other at the historic El Volcán. Tigres will host Monterrey in the first leg of the 2019 Apertura Final. Tigres was the second-place team in the league this season with a record 13 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss. One of those wins was against the “Rayadas”, when they beat them 3-2. They won 3-0 against the “Xolas” in the quarterfinal round, and in the semis beat Pachuca 5-3 to make it to the final.
Tigres demonstrates patient soccer, starting with confidence in their net by having their goalie Ofelia Solís and the defense doing their job. They’ve only allowed 14 goals in 18 games. Ofelia led them to six shutouts in her twelve regular season appearances. They also possess a potent counterattack. Their offense is led by center forward Katty Abad, and left side forward Jackie Ovalle who’s a year younger. Abad had 10 goals in the season and 20-year-old Ovalle had eight. She’s linked to an offseason move to play for the Houston Dash in the NWSL.
On the other hand, Rayadas was the first-place team in league play with a record of 16 wins, zero draws, and 2 losses. They edged out a tough Atlas side 1-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round before beating powerhouse América 4-3 aggregate in the quarterfinal round. This team is unbeaten at home, and their defense has only conceded 16 goals. They count on the league’s co-leading center forward goalscorer Desirée Monsiváis who’s 31 years old. She’s scored 17 this season, while 25-year-old Diana Envangelista has scored nine goals. We’ll see if they can win away and at home, to take their first Liga MX Femenil trophy home.
