Former referee Armando Archundia has stated that the decisive penalty awarded to Club de Fútbol Monterrey in the Leagues Cup semifinals should not have been given. His analysis, reported by Record MX, reignites debate over the key incident that sent Rayados to the tournament final after a 2-2 draw with Club América.
The match, which ended with América's elimination, featured a controversial moment in the 68th minute. Monterrey's Orbelín Pineda entered the penalty area and went down after contact with América defender Kevin Álvarez's knee. The center referee pointed to the spot, a decision Archundia openly criticized. "It's a play that I think should have called for a review because there are situations where I believe that penalty kick could not have been awarded," the former referee said.
What did Archundia specifically say about the incident?
Armando Archundia, an authoritative voice in Mexican refereeing, was clear in his assessment. He argued that football is a contact sport and that the incident between Pineda and Álvarez was minimal. "Football is about contact and this is a contact that I think is merely a digital contact, and unfortunately the referee from Guatemala was not called to give a second chance," he expressed. His central point is that the VAR official, of Guatemalan nationality, did not intervene to recommend an on-field review, which could have corrected the decision.
Archundia also referenced a separate incident involving América's Henry Martín, suggesting VAR did not adequately assist the referee there either. His overall commentary paints a picture of a video review process that failed at key moments in a high-pressure match.
How did the Leagues Cup match unfold?
The encounter had a dramatic narrative before the controversy. Monterrey took the lead with an own goal. A cross from Diego Rossi was deflected by defender Kevin Álvarez, wrong-footing his goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota. América responded with goals from Ramón Juárez to equalize and Alan Cervantes to put the Eagles ahead 2-1. The equalizer came from the penalty spot after Pineda's fall, forcing a shootout where Monterrey showed greater strength.
The penalty shootout victory propelled Rayados to the Leagues Cup Final, a significant continental achievement. However, the team faces a complicated present in Liga MX, where they sit in 9th place with 9 points after six matchdays. Their record is three wins and three losses, with 13 goals scored and 10 conceded.
What is Club de Fútbol Monterrey's current context?
The team receives this news in a period of irregular form. In the domestic league, Fernando Ortiz's Monterrey is on a two-game losing streak, including a 1-3 defeat to Atlético San Luis on August 31. This negative run leaves them seven points behind leaders Club América in the standings. Their next challenge is a tricky away fixture against 6th-placed Club Querétaro on September 5, a key match to correct their course in the local competition.
The squad, which you can review in detail on our squad page, seeks to recover consistency. The Leagues Cup controversy remains a contentious episode, but the focus is now on the league. Performance in the upcoming games, which can be followed on the fixtures calendar, will determine if the team can close in on the playoff spots. The match against Querétaro represents the immediate opportunity to snap the two-loss streak and prove that the defensive issues, visible in the 10 goals conceded this season, can be solved.
