The Diablos' hellish comeback at the Nemesio Diez; they eliminate Monterrey.
They win 2-1, 4-4 on aggregate, and advance due to a better position in the table.
The Diablos' hellish comeback at the Nemesio Diez; they eliminate Monterrey.
From the editorial staff
La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. 9
In a truly agonizing duel, the Diablos resurfaced to confirm their position as the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the Liga MX Clausura 2025 tournament. With a man down from the first half, Antonio Mohamed's Toluca responded ruthlessly against Monterrey to emerge with a 2-1 victory (4-4 aggregate) and benefit from a better position in the table to advance to the next phase.
With goals from Alexis Vega and Paulinho, the scarlet team returned to the semi-finals after almost three years, after having played the final in the 2022 Apertura tournament. In contrast, it was a tough elimination for the current runner-up Monterrey, who, despite international stars like Sergio Ramos, who was not in the game due to injury, and under the command of Martín Demichelis, were also left out of the Concachampions .
One goal separated Toluca from qualification. The Diablos, who had been leaders in the regular season, went into the second leg of the quarterfinals trailing 3-2. The rules required them to win by one goal to tie the aggregate score and secure their qualification, but the match at the Nemesio Diez Stadium wouldn't be easy.
The pressure led the scarlet team to make crucial mistakes early in the match. Helinho sparked fear among the Toluca squad by stamping on Gerardo Arteaga, earning himself a red card that left his team behind in the 21st minute.
Faced with nothing but adversity, a moment of individual brilliance gave Toluca a boost. Alexis Vega (29), an elite player but with inconsistent performances, responded well by receiving a long pass, facing the defense alone, and resisting to shoot powerfully to make it 1-0.
▲ Alexis Vega (left) and Paulinho scored the goals that sent Toluca to the semifinals. Photo @TolucaFC
However, the scene was marked by controversy. While Vega celebrated the goal that propelled his team to the next round, defender Antonio Pollo Briseño, who was on the bench, was sent off for a controversial celebration against the opponent.
Briseño's red card seemed to signal that Toluca would have a winding road ahead before the final celebration. Furthermore, the game wouldn't be spared from refereeing controversy, as shortly before halftime, referee Fernando Hernández failed to flag a handball committed by Jesús Gallardo, which could have given the visitors a penalty.
The Devils' anguish increased as the second half began. Roberto de la Rosa fired a shot that hit Andres Pereira's leg and then went in. Once again, the Monterrey team took the lead and scored.
It was then that a chorus of strength arose from the stands. "Yes, we can
," shouted the fans, waiting for that goal that would give the team life.
Both Toluca and coach Antonio Mohamed maintained their composure, and right at that turning point, they knew how to read the game in front of them to recover. From a corner kick, Paulinho (67), the team's goal-scorer, managed to connect with a header with the back of his head to send the ball into the net. It was the redeeming goal that also took them to the semifinals.
From the editorial staff
La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. 9
Even though Cruz Azul managed to reach an agreement with Porto regarding manager Martín Anselmi's release clause, it seems this episode still sparks controversy. The Argentine manager responded to the club to deny any financial insolvency
or any breach of confidentiality agreement.
Things are what they are. I showed up at Porto, there was an agreement that wasn't respected. Then a critical situation arose, but the parties reached an agreement for the same amount. Stop lying to people, there's no bankruptcy, no confidentiality agreement, nothing. This is the agreement, the figures are there
, he said at a press conference with the Dragons.
I can't be insolvent if Porto supports me. I don't want to go against my former club; I have a lot of affection for Cruz Azul and its fans, which is why it was such a sensitive issue for me
, he added.
Porto revealed on Friday that it had reached an agreement with Cruz Azul to pay only 85 percent of Anselmi's buyout clause. The total amount demanded by the club was $5 million; however, in the end, he reportedly agreed to receive only $3.5 million.
After the Dragons sent a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CSM) stating that they had closed the case with a transfer of $3.5 million, La Maquina later issued a message on social media.
This decision by the club was based on the declaration of financial insolvency of one of the parties involved in our lawsuit for breach of contract, and in light of the legal tactics to extend the resolution of the matter to a period of three or four years
, the Celestes indicated.
In keeping with the law and its honor, Cruz Azul will not reveal the agreed payment amounts, which were set in dollars, not euros, and whose deadlines must be exercised between now and next April 2026 at the latest
, they added.
The controversy began earlier this year when Anselmi, who had a contract with Cruz Azul until 2027, decided to abruptly leave the team after receiving an offer to manage Porto in Portugal.
While the manager even brought La Máquina to an end and reestablished a connection with the sky-blue fans, the manner in which he left the club provoked anger among both supporters and the squad. Cruz Azul even filed a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to force Porto to pay his release clause.
Anselmi's case coincided with that of fellow Argentine Fernando Gago, who joined Chivas in 2024 and left the club in the second half of the year to manage Boca Juniors.
Sorloth scores four goals for Atleti
Jiménez finds the net again, but Fulham falls to Everton
From the Editorial Staff
La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. a10
Raúl Jiménez found the net again in the penultimate round of the English Premier League. The Mexican, who had not appeared on the scoresheet since March 8 and turned his efforts to team work, scored Fulham's only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Everton at Craven Cottage. It was the national team's 11th goal of the 2024-2025 season.
Jiménez also entered the London club's top 10 goal scorers in the English league with a tally of 17 goals. This record corresponds only to the Premier League era, which began in 1992-93, and not to the entire history of English football's First Division. Just as he did at Wolverhampton, where he scored 40 goals and established himself as a striker, the player who came through América's youth ranks once again made history.
Despite this, Fulham lost the lead the Mexican had created in the 17th minute and suffered a comeback thanks to goals from Vitali Mykolenko (45+3), Michael Keane (70), and Beto Betuncal (73), who ended the Cottagers ' European dream in the league. Jiménez extended his scoring record in the competition to 58 goals.
The Toffees , who have nothing at stake beyond enjoying the final days as their manager David Moyes admitted, are in 13th place with 42 points, while Fulham are virtually eliminated from the fight for eighth place in 11th place with 51 points.
Chino Huerta is the starter
Hundreds of miles away in Belgium, César Huerta started for Anderlecht, but couldn't prevent a 1-0 home defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise. El Chino had several chances to disrupt the attack, especially in the first half, shortly before Mohammed Fuseini (27) scored the goal that sealed the match.
In Germany, Thomas Müller led Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title celebrations after helping the team beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 in their final home game of the season.
After being presented with the trophy, Bayern captain Manuel Neuer handed it to Müller to raise it into the Munich sky and begin the confetti-filled celebrations.
There was another burst of excitement when Harry Kane got his chance to lift the salad bowl
, marking the England captain's first trophy after an unsuccessful career.
Bayern Munich won their 34th Bundesliga title last weekend, with no rivals able to match their points tally. Bochum and Holstein Kiel, meanwhile, were relegated, while Leipzig's Champions League hopes were dashed after a 0-0 draw at Werder Bremen.
Finally, in Spain, a four-goal effort from Atlético de Madrid's Norwegian striker, Alexander Sorloth, defeated a non-existent Real Sociedad (4-0) in matchday 35 of LaLiga, consolidating their third position in the table with 70 points, nine behind leader Barcelona.
(With information from AFP)
Mexican O'Ward celebrates his second IndyCar podium finish
From the editorial staff
La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. a10
Mexican Patricio O'Ward (Arrow McLaren) celebrated his second podium finish of the IndyCar season by finishing runner-up in the Indianapolis Grand Prix, ahead of the Indianapolis 500 in two weeks. The champion in this competition was Spaniard Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi), who repeated the feat he achieved on this track last year.
It was a spectacular performance by the Monterrey native, who staged a comeback after coming from eighth place to finish in the top spots.
The only time this season O'Ward had finished on the podium was on March 23rd, round two of the Thermal Club Grand Prix. The Tricolor's strong performance this season has allowed him to move into fifth place in the overall standings.
The national driver took advantage of his direct rivals' pit stops in the final stage of the race to secure his place on the podium.
O'Ward closed this week on a high note, after his Arrow McLaren team announced a few days ago that the tri-color will compete in the free practice sessions for the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, which will take place on October 26 at the Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack.
▲ Patricio O'Ward finished second in the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Photo @patriciooward
The victory in Indianapolis was also momentous for Spaniard Palou, as he secured the best start to an IndyCar season since 1964 by winning four of the five races contested so far and finishing second in the only race he didn't win.
With this victory, the Iberian driver surpassed the feat previously achieved by Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais, who in 2006 won four of the first five races and finished fifth in one. Until now, the only driver to win the first five IndyCar races was American AJ Foyt in 1964.
The next race will be on May 25th with the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious events in the series. O'Ward has come close to winning that race, having finished second in both 2022 and 2024.
Urías hits a solo home run
▲ Mexican Luis Urías (pictured) hit a solo home run, his sixth of the season, in his team, the Athletics, 11-7 victory over the New York Yankees. The Mexican's blast came in the second inning and culminated with a one-for-four hit, one run scored, and one RBI. With Shea Langeliers' three-run homer in the seventh inning, the Athletics were able to overcome Aaron Judge's two home runs and snap a three-game losing streak. In the eighth, Langeliers added a two-run double. Photo @mlbmexico
La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. a10
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