The Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City was buzzing with anticipation on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, as Club América hosted Atlético San Luis in the highly anticipated Jornada 2 clash of the Liga MX Clausura 2026. With both teams eager to shake off disappointing starts to the tournament, the stakes were high, and the atmosphere electric as fans filled the 32,329-seat stadium, hoping their side would claim those all-important three points.
América entered the match under pressure, having managed only a 0-0 draw against Club Tijuana in their opening fixture. The home side, led by manager André Jardine, was determined to secure its first victory and avoid falling further behind in the early league standings. Atlético San Luis, meanwhile, was also looking for redemption after a 2-0 defeat to Tigres UANL in their season debut, which had left them languishing in 15th place with zero points.
Kick-off was set for 19:05 local time in Mexico City, with fans across the Americas tuning in via Canal 5 and TUDN in Mexico, UniMás and TUDN in the United States, and streaming services like VIX Premium. The match was also covered in real time by Claro Sports and other platforms, ensuring supporters everywhere could follow the drama as it unfolded.
From the opening whistle, América sought to assert themselves, fielding a strong lineup that included Luis Malagón in goal, defenders Israel Reyes and Kevin Álvarez, and new attacking options such as Allan Saint-Maximin. Atlético San Luis, under Guillermo Abascal, countered with a solid eleven featuring Andrés Sánchez in goal, Román Torres and Robson Alves at the back, and João Pedro and Anderson Duarte leading the attack.
The match began with high intensity, both sides trading early chances and fouls. In just the third minute, América’s Rodrigo Aguirre rattled the post with a fierce left-footed shot, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter. Atlético San Luis responded with their own attacking forays, as Sébastien Salles-Lamonge and Eduardo Águila tested the América defense with shots from distance.
However, the game’s complexion changed dramatically in the 20th minute. Ramón Juárez, one of América’s key defenders, was shown a straight red card after a reckless challenge on Juan Manuel Sanabria. The sending off forced Jardine to reshuffle his tactics on the fly, bringing on Sebastián Cáceres for Patricio Salas and sacrificing some attacking ambition to shore up the back line. According to match reports, "the expulsion of Juárez was a turning point that complicated América’s strategy for the rest of the game."
Despite being a man down, América managed to hold their own for the remainder of the first half, with both teams creating half-chances but failing to break the deadlock. The physicality increased, with fouls and corner kicks coming thick and fast, and the referee adding three minutes of stoppage time before the teams headed to the locker rooms at 0-0.
The second half saw Atlético San Luis capitalize on their numerical advantage. In the 52nd minute, Román Torres whipped in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Juan Manuel Sanabria rose highest to power a header past Malagón, sending the visiting fans into celebration. The goal marked a deserved breakthrough for San Luis, who had begun to control possession and stretch the depleted América defense.
América tried to respond, with Jardine making attacking substitutions—Víctor Dávila and Brian Rodríguez entered the fray to add fresh legs and creativity. Yet, the hosts struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, as San Luis’s defense remained organized and disciplined. Israel Reyes and Dávila both saw efforts blocked or deflected, highlighting América’s ongoing struggles in front of goal this tournament.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 67th minute. This time, it was João Pedro who found the net, finishing coolly with a right-footed shot after a low cross from Salles-Lamonge following a corner. The San Luis duo had been a constant threat, their coordination and movement causing headaches for América’s makeshift backline. The scoreboard now read 2-0 in favor of Atlético San Luis, and the home crowd fell noticeably quieter.
With time running out, América pushed forward desperately in search of a lifeline. The match grew increasingly physical, with a flurry of fouls and corners at both ends. San Luis introduced fresh players like Anderson Duarte and Fidel Barajas to maintain their energy and defensive stability, while América’s attempts from Dávila and others failed to trouble Sánchez in the San Luis goal.
The final minutes saw San Luis nearly add a third, as Roberto Meráz’s long-range effort narrowly missed the crossbar in stoppage time. The referee allowed four minutes of added time, but América could not muster a comeback. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory for Atlético San Luis, handing América their first home defeat of the Clausura 2026 and leaving them winless after two rounds.
This result sent shockwaves through the América faithful, who had expected a much stronger start to the campaign. The team’s inability to convert possession into goals, combined with defensive lapses and the costly red card, has raised concerns about their title credentials. "América has not won a match yet in the Clausura 2026 after this defeat," noted several outlets, with the pressure now mounting on Jardine and his squad to find solutions ahead of their next fixture.
For Atlético San Luis, the victory was a much-needed boost, showcasing their resilience and tactical discipline on the road. The goals from Sanabria and João Pedro, along with a composed defensive display, suggest that San Luis could be a dark horse in this season’s race for the Liguilla.
Looking back at recent meetings between the two sides, América had enjoyed the upper hand, winning four of the last six encounters. But this result flips the script, giving San Luis a rare and memorable away triumph. The betting odds before kick-off had heavily favored América, but football, as always, delivered its share of surprises.
As the dust settles on a dramatic night in Mexico City, América must regroup quickly if they are to get their season back on track, while Atlético San Luis will look to build on this momentum in the weeks ahead. The Liga MX Clausura 2026 is just getting started, but already, the storylines are heating up.
