It is crunch time for Santos Laguna and Monterrey as both teams will fight for their fourth championship in franchise history.
Ninety minutes separate Ruben Omar Romano from his first championship as a manager.
Twelve years of near-misses, cruel bounces of the ball and poor squads are almost over for the Argentine, who nonetheless will face an incredibly difficult task in front of him as a battle-hardened Monterrey team headed by a five-time champion manager lie before him.
Santos Laguna repeated their bid to be Mexican league champions after they were denied in the Bicentenario 2010, and with a favorable 3-2 result in the first leg, stand before their fourth league title in franchise history.
Goals by Jorge Iván Estrada, Carlos Darwin Quintero and possibly the costliest own goal in Duilio Davino's career put the lagoon up 3-2 after the first leg.
Neri Cardozo and the ever-dangerous Humberto Suazo kept Monterrey within arm's reach for the second leg, a game they must win by two goals in order to keep their manager Victor Manuel Vucetich's impressive streak alive of having never lost a final series in his career as manager.
On the other side of the pitch, as mentioned, Ruben Omar Romano, Santos' manager, has never won a final series in his twelve-year career.
With star strikers such as Christian Benitez and Quintero, spearheaded by a fantastic midfield that combines speed and skill with Daniel Ludueña, Fernando Arce and Jose María Cárdenas, Santos will attempt to monopolize the ball and push forward in Monterrey territory for the entirety of the 90 minutes.
Monterrey will attempt to win its first championship at home since 1986, coincidentally their first title in franchise history, when they defeated Tampico Madero.
Santos Laguna will try for their first title since 2008, when Daniel Guzman lead them to the promised land just a few months after being saved from relegation.
The Rayados are hoping that the aforementioned tandem of Suazo and Cardozo can generate a strong push offensively, while Aldo de Nigris and Osvaldo Martínez are also strong individuals that Vucetich can call on.
A single goal victory by Monterrey would push the game into extra time, one that has haunted Romano in the past, especially in the last tournament, when Toluca burned them from the penalty kick spot and crowned themselves for the tenth time in franchise history.
Finally, the game could mark the end of Christian Benitez and Humberto Suazo's careers in Mexico, as both South American strikers are sought after in Europe. Suazo previously played for Real Zaragoza in Spain, while Benitez tasted European football in England with Birmingham City.
Twelve years of near-misses, cruel bounces of the ball and poor squads are almost over for the Argentine, who nonetheless will face an incredibly difficult task in front of him as a battle-hardened Monterrey team headed by a five-time champion manager lie before him.
Santos Laguna repeated their bid to be Mexican league champions after they were denied in the Bicentenario 2010, and with a favorable 3-2 result in the first leg, stand before their fourth league title in franchise history.
Goals by Jorge Iván Estrada, Carlos Darwin Quintero and possibly the costliest own goal in Duilio Davino's career put the lagoon up 3-2 after the first leg.
Neri Cardozo and the ever-dangerous Humberto Suazo kept Monterrey within arm's reach for the second leg, a game they must win by two goals in order to keep their manager Victor Manuel Vucetich's impressive streak alive of having never lost a final series in his career as manager.
On the other side of the pitch, as mentioned, Ruben Omar Romano, Santos' manager, has never won a final series in his twelve-year career.
With star strikers such as Christian Benitez and Quintero, spearheaded by a fantastic midfield that combines speed and skill with Daniel Ludueña, Fernando Arce and Jose María Cárdenas, Santos will attempt to monopolize the ball and push forward in Monterrey territory for the entirety of the 90 minutes.
Monterrey will attempt to win its first championship at home since 1986, coincidentally their first title in franchise history, when they defeated Tampico Madero.
Santos Laguna will try for their first title since 2008, when Daniel Guzman lead them to the promised land just a few months after being saved from relegation.
The Rayados are hoping that the aforementioned tandem of Suazo and Cardozo can generate a strong push offensively, while Aldo de Nigris and Osvaldo Martínez are also strong individuals that Vucetich can call on.
A single goal victory by Monterrey would push the game into extra time, one that has haunted Romano in the past, especially in the last tournament, when Toluca burned them from the penalty kick spot and crowned themselves for the tenth time in franchise history.
Finally, the game could mark the end of Christian Benitez and Humberto Suazo's careers in Mexico, as both South American strikers are sought after in Europe. Suazo previously played for Real Zaragoza in Spain, while Benitez tasted European football in England with Birmingham City.
