FC Juarez Defeats Club America in Penalty Kicks

Bravos de FC Juarez defeated Club America in a penalty kick shootout 9-8 last night in the round of the 16 of the Copa MX. Yes, FC Juarez went into one the greatest soccer stadiums in the world, Azteca Stadium and defeated one of the biggest soccer teams in the Western Hemisphere.

The team from the Borderland took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute of the match when a penalty kick was called in their favor when Mauro Fernandez was tripped up in the America goalbox. Rodrigo Prieto took the kick and put the ball in the back of the net.

America would need less than 10 minutes at the start of the second half to take a 2-1 over the Bravos. They scored in the first 45 seconds of the second half and then scored again 8 minutes later.

One would have thought this meant the end of this midweek competition for FC Juarez, yet in the final 15 minutes the local team took their foot of the pedal and allowed the Bravos back in the match. The Bravos took advantage and were able to pressure, create chances and ultimately scored off a free kick. Veteran player Leandro Carrijo scored from inside the 6-yard box when Edy Brambila passed him the ball in the 86th minute.

The match would end in a tie and the teams would go immediately to a penalty kick shootout with no extra time periods being played. Both teams would miss their 3rd penalty kick, but in the end the Bravos would outlast America winning on their 10th attempt in the series of penalty kicks. Fernando Javier Nevarez would make his attempt for FC Juarez and goalkeeper Ivan Vasquez Medallo would block Alex Renato’s attempt.