Nico Castillo Scores A Brace As America Defeats Monterrey
In an action-packed game from beginning to end, Club America defeats Monterrey with a 4-2 victory, in which both teams did not hold back on their offensive attack.
Coming off a recent, thrilling victory and winning the Campeon de Campeones Championship against Tigres, Las Aguilas were to face the other team from the northern city, Los Rayados de Monterrey in the first week of the 2019 Apertura.
Monterrey came out blazing hot in the initial whistle as they struck first, with a cross from Dorlan Pabon that went over the Aguilas defenders and left Rogelio Funes Mori with a one on one opportunity against Agustin Marchesin. Funes Mori did not hesitate to send the ball past Marchesin giving Rayados the first goal of the game in the 7th minute of play.
America did not wait to strike next as they were awarded a penalty and Nico Castillo who is trying to redeem himself with the America fans this season took charge of the penalty kick, he struck the ball towards Marcelo Barovero’s right side and he was able to get his hand on the ball but infortunately for Rayados the ball still was able to go past Barovero into the goal in the 16th minute, tying the game for El Piojo Herrera’s team.
Immediately after the celebrations for America, they went on attack once again stealing the ball from Rayados in their defensive third of the field. From here, Renato Ibarra sent a cross into the center of the box for a flying Matheus Uribe who headed the ball into the net giving America the 2-1 lead in just a span of three minutes.
Monterrey wanted to make sure they did not fall behind quickly so they then ensued to attack America’s defense for the following 15 minutes. That was until Stefan Medina sent a beautiful pass to Aviles Hurtado who headered the ball past Marchesin’s outstretched hands securing the 2-2 draw in the 30th minute of play and sending both teams with the draw into the halftime break.
The second half of play continued an offensive onslaught for both teams, but America was the team who struck first, as Castillo received a cross from Ibarra that he headered past Barovero, giving him his brace of the game and giving Las Aguilas the lead once again in the 49th minute of play.
Both teams continued to exchange missed goal opportunites on both ends of the field with missed free kicks and some good saves from both goalies.
In the 77th minute, Roger Martinez delivered the final dagger of the game after he found a Barovero blocked shot and was able to put it past him giving America the 4-2 final score of the game.
Club America now heads into an away, mid-week game in the Leagues Cup tournament to face Houston Dynamo. As for the Regios, they will play host to the newly promoted Atletico San Luis in the second week of play.
