Club America and FC Juarez settle for 1-1 draw in Liga MX opener

Club America kicked off their Liga MX Apertura campaign with a 1-1 draw against FC Juarez in a tightly contested opener at the Estadio Olimpico in Mexico City.

Juarez controlled possession in the early stages and capitalized with a well-executed goal late in the first half. America responded to level the score with a sharp finish in the closing stages following sustained pressure.

Despite several chances in the final 15 minutes, including seven minutes of stoppage time, neither side could find a winner.


America, who were down to ten men for close to 17 minutes, showed flashes of their attacking quality but lacked the clinical edge needed to secure all three points. Both teams shared the spoils to open their season campaigns.

Alejandro Zendejas opened the scoring for Juarez as he broke through alone on a play initially flagged for offside but continued and calmly slotted home the opening goal in the 39th minute.


There were no substitutions at the start of the second half, as all 22 players returned to the pitch. Club America began the half with greater possession and pushed forward aggressively, aiming to extend their lead.

Juarez struggled to maintain possession as the second half progressed, with the match becoming increasingly challenging for them. Club America looked far more dominant, holding the lead and controlling the tempo.

America were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute after the referee issued a red card to Erick Sanchez for a reckless tackle. The dismissal handed Juarez a golden opportunity to capitalize on their numerical advantage and push for an equalizer in the closing stages of the match.

Ten minutes later, Rodolfo Pizarro found the back of the net with a sharp header to level the score, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. With momentum shifting, the home side now looks to press forward in search of a late winner.


As the match entered the 90th minute, seven minutes of added time were announced. Juarez pushed all their players forward in search of a late winner, spending most of the final moments deep in America’s half. Meanwhile, the visitors focused on managing the clock and disrupting the rhythm to hold on for the draw.