Five Reasons Why Club América Will Be Liga MX Femenil Champions

Club América is the big favorite heading into the playoffs

What makes them the team to beat?

1. Sandra Paños

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If there is something the Mexican women’s program still needs to improve is their development of world-class keepers and unfortunately, that is reflected in the league. It’s not uncommon to see goalkeepers make basic mistakes – it is positive to see that those mistakes are fewer and fewer with each passing season.

Club América has bet on its women’s program for some years now and since GM Claudia Carrión took over, the club has been investing good money to be successful. Spanish international goalkeeper Sandra Paños arrived at Coapa last June and has made a huge difference since she became América’s starting goalkeeper.

It was expected. After all, she’s a champion – thanks to all the silverware she collected mostly with Barcelona and has a long trajectory with her national team. Paños has a vast experience and her track record speaks for itself. She’s hands down the best goalkeeper in the league. Her role will be pivotal for the playoffs and América’s hopes for the title.

2. Peaking at the Right Time

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The team had a rough start to the season. The lack of early results included: a loss in their first game of the tournament against Cruz Azul and a draw against Puebla. Those results gave them the wake-up call they needed. They started to perform better and better and are peaking at the right time.

They’re not only performing well as a team but individually, the players are in great form. It was expected, but finally all of their potential is has translated to the pitch. A lot of credit goes to coach Ángel Villacampa who found a way to use the team’s strengths. Additionally, he did a great job scouting which was important in bringing on new players who strengthened the roster and helped those who were underperforming.

3. Strong and Cohesive Squad

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Club América has been making the right signings for some time now but in many cases, they’ve had bad luck or other things prevented them from getting the best out of them. For example, Scarlett Camberos had to leave the club due to safety concerns from online threats and stalking.

However, those days are gone. Club América is now one of the top destinations in Mexico. The mentality has changed as well. The women are not an afterthought and the club is willing to invest in big names. Of course, Villacampa has helped not only to change the mentality but also build a strong squad using connections from his home country, Spain.

What separates América from every other club, is their unity. Everyone is united and believes in one another. As a result, the success on the field has shined brightly.

4. A Strong Midfield with Versatility

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Club América’s midfield has upgraded this year and it’s producing results. Since their arrivals, Irene Guerrero and Nancy “The Countess” Antonio, have made a difference in such an important part of the field.

Their presence has allowed Nikki Hernández to recover part of the quality she lost in past seasons. As a defensive midfielder, Antonio has been great and along with Guerrero, they have a good rapport. Antonio’s importance can’t be understated because her role allows the Spaniard to go forward to add herself to the attack in opportune times. Villacampa has another incredible option he can use in the final third.

Those two versatile positions allow them to interchange with the forwards. Although Sarah Luebbert is listed as a midfielder, she’s usually working on the right wing. She also stays in the middle of the park to receive the ball and go from there. It is not uncommon to see Scarlett Camberos on the right, if needed. Don’t be surprised to see captain Kiana Palacios drop to the midfield to create looks or distribute the ball.

5. A Scoring Machine and Elite Defense

The interchangeability has been key for América to find the back of the net 55 times this tournament (13 times more than any other team in the league).

Club América has five top 20 goalscorers in the league: Palacios (4th) with 13 goals, Luebbert (7th) with 10 goals, Camberos (18th) with five goals, and Irene Guerrero 19th with five goals.

On an interesting note, their newest forward, Priscila Da Silva (38th), has scored three goals in only 315 minutes. That’s one tally every 105 minutes. If we compare her to Luebbert, the Missouri native has scored one goal every 111 minutes. If Da Silva continues on at that rate, she’ll become the club’s most effective weapon.

In regards to the defense, Nancy Antonio’s stellar play is keeping opponents at bay and her recoveries help initiate the attack.

Conclusion

In the end, their worst enemy is themselves. Club América have the support, the budget, a competent coach, and the squad. They have proven this tournament they’re a true contender. The same happened last season where they lost a heartbreaker in penalties. That result has given them a hunger and drive that will lead them all the way.