MONTERREY — Rayadas returned to the top of the mountain in Liga MX Femenil by winning the Clausura 2024 championship, the club’s third league title, in front of 31,478 fans at the Estadio BBVA last Monday.
After losing the first leg, 1-0, to Club America at the Estadio Azteca, Rayadas turned things around with a 2-1 victory in the second leg. The 2-2 draw on aggregate led to a penalty kick shootout, deciding the monarch of Mexican women’s football, which the Monterrey side accomplished by winning 4-3 on penalties.
Both America and Rayadas were on a quest to secure the third star above their crest. After a great display on Friday at the Azteca, Las Aguilas were confident to defend their one-goal advantage.
The Mexico City side earned their lead at the end of the first half in the first leg. Kimberly Rodriguez got past Monterrey’s defensive line in the box to connect with America captain Kiana Palacios in the 45’+1’.
America continued their tally into the second leg, with Sarah Luebbert making an immediate impact in the 10’ by getting the ball past two Rayadas defenders and goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar with a low cross-shot. This was her fifth goal of the Liguilla, scoring in each stage of the postseason.
The Monterrey contingent worked themselves back into the game thanks to a goal in the 25’ from Jermaine Seoposenwe. Christina Burkenroad assisted the play from the right corner as the South African international controlled the ball in the box, turning to get past Itzel Velasco to cut the deficit in the series.
The final grew more intense when Aurelie Kaci was called for a handball on a clearance in the 90’+6’. After conferring with the VAR, the referee called for a penalty kick. Rayadas captain Rebeca Bernal didn’t waste time taking the shot, tying on aggregate in the final seconds.
¡Siempre contigo, C4pi CAMP3ONA! 💙🏆 https://t.co/thz7r7syqS
— Rayadas (@Rayadas) May 29, 2024
A penalty shout-out would be necessary as a tiebreaker to decide the next Liga MX Femenil winners. Tajonar was key to deciding the game, with the experienced Rayadas goalkeeper denying attempts from Karen Luna and Aylin Aviles to lead Monterrey to the 4-3 victory on PKs.
Rayadas completed the comeback and crowned themselves the Clausura 2024 champions. Costa Rican Amelia Valverde became the fourth female manager to lead a team to the league title in Mexico in her first season as Monterrey's head coach.
