The first game of the Liga MX semifinal resulted to be a four goal thriller between Monterrey and Club America. The result slightly favors the Mexico City side since they will have home field advantage in the second leg, have netted two away goals, and hold a higher seeded position.

Visiting America dominated the game from start to finish while the home side only had a handful of scoring chances. America started the game with majority of the possession and created lots of goal scoring opportunities but could not find the back of the net in the first half.

In one of the few times the home side had the ball in the attacking side of the field Humberto "Chupete" Suazo dribbled the ball and got fouled. He then turned that free kick into a "Golazo" to give Monterrey the 1-0 lead.

Not much changed after the Monterrey goal; America kept on controlling the match and creating some dangerous goal scoring opportunities. Rubens Sambueza took a free kick from the right side of the field and smashed it against the far corner of the frame of goal.

With the America dominance and the Monterrey lead, the game went into halftime with the score 1-0.

For the second half America came out and played the same game plan. With the only difference from the first half was that the star forward Christian "Chucho" Benitez took advantage of the chances created.

The equalizing goal came from a chipped pass from Juan Carlos Medina towards "Chucho" Benitez. The Ecuadorian forward fought off the challenge from the Monterrey defender and goalkeeper and tapped in the ball.

America took the lead once again through Benitez. After a long corner kick e ball was recrossed and the Monterrey defensive line did not advance enough to leave the America players in offsides. Benitez took advantage to bring down the ball and once again fight off defenders and shoot from close range.

The joy did not last long for the America side as minutes later Humberto Suazo p,ayes a ball into Aldo De Nigris who in spite of receiving the ball with his back to the goal was able to turn and shot the ball pass Moises Muñoz to put the scoreboard level.

The series is still up for grabs for both teams as they head to the Estadio Azteca for the second leg this coming Saturday.

jonny.rico@sandiegored.com