Club América Drops Two Points to Start the Season Against FC Juárez
The much-anticipated return of Club América was marred by a costly red card and a late equalizer from Juárez, ending in a 1–1 draw. While the result salvages a point on the road, it ultimately feels like two valuable points dropped — the kind that could come back to haunt them later in the season. What should have been a straightforward win to kick off the campaign turned into a disappointing performance with clear areas for improvement. Still, one major positive emerged: Alejandro Zendejas not only scored but looked every bit the creative engine wearing the number ten shirt.
Starting XI: Rodolfo Cota; Dagoberto Espinoza, Sebastián Cáceres, Igor Lichnovsky, Cristian Borja, Ralph Orquin, Alan Cervantes, Erick Sánchez; Alejandro Zendejas, Brian Rodríguez, Rodrigo Aguirre.
Red Card Blunder Costs América the Win
Captaining Club América is no small honor, and when that moment arrives, it’s critical to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately, Erick Sánchez failed to do just that. His 70th-minute red card turned the tide of the match. Not only did it leave his team vulnerable, but it also guarantees he’ll miss the next league match against Tijuana. His dismissal deflated América’s midfield control and opened the door for Juárez to find the equalizer.
While Sánchez will take much of the criticism, the responsibility falls on the team as a whole. Once down to ten men, América lost shape and control, especially in the middle of the park. The lack of midfield presence created space for Juárez to exploit — something they ultimately took full advantage of.
Zendejas Shines Amid Frustrating Draw
Despite the disappointing result, Alejandro Zendejas offered a silver lining. Wearing the iconic number ten, he opened the scoring and delivered a performance that suggested he could be the heartbeat of the squad this season. Rather than sticking to the flank, he drifted centrally, looking sharp and involved in the buildup. His fluid movement and passing range sparked América’s best moments.
Even with several of his teammates underperforming, Zendejas stood out. His confidence and creativity will be crucial moving forward, especially with the squad still missing key players and rhythm early in the campaign.
What’s Next for América?
There’s no time to dwell on the result. América returns to action quickly with a midweek matchup against Club Tijuana on Wednesday, July 16. Then comes the season’s first marquee clash: the Campeón de Campeones showdown against Toluca, set for Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
With matches coming fast, André Jardine’s side must regroup and respond. A convincing win midweek could do wonders for morale heading into the season’s first shot at silverware.