América's 'Águilas' took a 2-1 lead over Monterrey's 'Rayados' in the first leg of the final of the Apertura-2024 Mexican soccer tournament played on Thursday at the Cuauhtémoc stadium in Puebla (center).

The start of the match was unfortunate for Monterrey. After just two minutes, Argentine attacker Lucas Ocampos had to come off the bench with a muscle injury in his right leg.

In a promising first breakthrough, in the 12th minute, America's Kevin Álvarez took a pass from defender Gerardo Arteaga and was left in front of goal, but his shot went over the crossbar.

In the 26th minute, Monterrey's Sergio Canales tried his first shot from outside the box, but the ball went just wide of the right post.

On this occasion, the Iberian took the ball with his back to the goal, turned and shot a left-footed shot into the upper left corner to beat goalkeeper Ángel Malagón and make it 1-0 for the Rayados.

The 'Águilas' reacted quickly and made it 1-1 in the 39th minute when Álvarez appeared in the box to connect with a shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

The second half began, and América turned the game around in the 49th minute. Spaniard Álvaro Fidalgo filtered a ball into the Monterrey area, on the left flank, and Alejandro Zendejas made it 2-1 with a left-footed, cross-cum-shot.

In the 54th minute, Víctor Dávila wasted the opportunity for the third goal; the Chilean faced goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas one-on-one, who blocked the shot with his left foot.

Cárdenas saved the 'Rayados' again in the 56th minute, deflecting a shot by Colombian Borja from outside the area for a corner kick.

In the 88th minute, Cárdenas denied América another goal when he deflected a shot inside the box by Fidalgo, who was looking to beat the goalkeeper.

The final's second leg will be played on Sunday at BBVA Stadium, starting at 7 p.m. local time.

In this final, América seeks its 20th league title while Monterrey goes for its sixth.

© Agence France-Presse