Liga MX Femenil is back with another new season! This time, the Apertura season — the fall campaign — has kicked off. Mexico doesn’t have to worry about domestic players being gone for the World Cup, after failing to qualify last summer, so most rosters are still stacked with talent.
Reigning champions Club América kicked off their Apertura season in style, topping UNAM Pumas, 5-2. Four different goal scorers found the back of the net, with Betzy Cuevas scoring a brace. América won their second-ever Liga MX Femenil title last season, beating Pachuca.
Andrea Pereira found the back of the net first, scoring in the 18th minute on a converted penalty. After an equalizing goal from Dirce Delgado, América forward Katty Martínez scored right before the halftime break, off a header and surrounded by two defenders.
Cuevas scored her first of two goals in the 65th minute, but it was Sarah Luebbert that did the work. The American and former Chicago Red Stars forward was left all alone to cross the ball. Cuevas tapped the ball, but goalkeeper Melany Villeda fell on top of the ball, helping to shift it past the line.
Aerial Chavarin pulled Pumas within one goal after putting a diving header in the back of the net. In reality, it was a rookie mistake from 18-year-old goalkeeper Itzel Velasco, electing to dive herself instead of staying on her feet to block the shot. Itzel González is the normal starter, but did not dress.
Cuevas and Luebbert linked up again for practically the same goal, except the strike was more solid from Cuevas and didn’t fall under the goalkeeper. Pumas’ hopes for a comeback were officially dashed when Noemí Granados scored in the 87th minute off a strike inside the box.
América will take on Santos Laguna in Week 2, who fell in their first match of the season to Pachuca. Stop if you’ve read before that Charyln Corral scored two goals, while Esbeydi Salazar found a third.
Other Apertura Week 1 Scores
- Toluca 1-1 C.F. Monterrey
- Club León 2-0 Necaxa
- Santos Laguna 1-3 Pachuca
- Mazatlán 2-3 Cruz Azul
- Club Tijuana 1-1 Chivas de Guadalajara
- UANL Tigres 4-0 Puebla
- FC Juárez 1-1 Atlético San Luis
Note: Atlas and Querétaro’s Week 1 match was postponed until Wednesday, July 26, due to to “drainage upgrades and installations” at Estadio Jalisco.
Noteworthy News from Liga MX Femenil
Christina Burkenroad signs with Monterrey through 2025: After rumors on a broadcast linked Burkenroad to Racing Louisville of the National Women’s Soccer League, Burkenroad silenced those rumors by signing a two-year deal with Rayadas. She scored 15 goals last season in 16 matches.
Mia Fishel rumored to sign with Chelsea Women from Tigres: Rumors flew around England with the name “Mia Fishel” on the radar. Turns out, those rumors proved true, with the UCLA alum reportedly signing with Chelsea FC in the Women’s Super League. According to César Luis Merlo, Chelsea signed Fishel for $260,000 U.S. dollars. It’s a big bet for Fishel, who proved to excel in Liga MX Femenil — after forgoing joining the Orlando Pride after being drafted No. 5 overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft — after scoring 38 goals in 48 regular-season matches. The move hasn’t been formally announced by Chelsea, but you can dream of the Sam Kerr-Fishel link up while you wait.
Chivas announces coaching switch: A few weeks before the Liga M Femenil season kicked off, manager Juan Pablo Alfaro announced that he was leaving the club. He helped Chivas earn a league title in the 2022 Clausura. Chivas named Argentinian manager Antonio Spinelli as the new coach. The official release stated that Spinelli, who formerly coached Racing Club for four years, “likes that his teams are aggressive with the ball and that his players propose the rhythm of the match.”
Liga MX Femenil Apertura 2023 Table | Week 1
NOTE: The top eight teams in Liga MX Femenil will qualify for the Liguilla, which are the playoffs.
| UANL Tigres | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Club América | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Pachuca | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Club León | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Atlético San Luis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chivas de Guadalajara | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| C.F. Monterrey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FC Juárez | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Club Tijuana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Atlas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Querétaro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mazatlán | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Santos Laguna | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Necaxa | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| UNAM Pumas | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
| Puebla | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
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Looking Ahead: Apertura 2023 | Week 2
*All Times in Eastern Time.
Friday, July 21: Querétaro vs. Atlético San Luis at 7:06 PM
Friday, July 21: Mazatlán vs. Toluca at 9:06 PM
Friday, July 21: FC Juárez vs. UANL Tigres at 11:10 PM
Saturday, July 22: UNAM Pumas vs. Atlas at 2 PM (ViX+)
Saturday, July 22: C.F. Monterrey vs. Club León at 11 PM (ViX+)
Sunday, July 23: Club América vs. Santos Laguna at 7 PM (ViX+)
Sunday, July 23: Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Puebla at 9 PM
Monday, July 24: Necaxa vs. Club Tijuana at 7 PM (ViX+)
Monday, July 24: Pachuca vs. Cruz Azul at 9:06 PM
Make Up Match from Week 1: Atlas vs. Querétaro, Wednesday, July 26, at 10:06 PM
More...