Rayados de Monterrey's struggles continued as they fell to FC Juárez with a 2-1 loss on February 8, 2025, at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez. With only one victory from their first six matches of the Torneo Clausura 2025, the team is now languishing at the 12th spot on the leaderboard, outside the playoff zone.
Jesús Murillo opened the scoring for Juárez, taking advantage of poor defensive work from Monterrey. The goal came from the edge of the small area following a corner, as Murillo found space amid Monterrey's defenses and headed the ball past goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas. This marked the 35th minute of the match, throwing the visitors on their heels.
Despite Monterrey controlling more possession and creating more chances, it was Juárez who struck again. Óscar Estupiñán doubled the home side's lead with another header, this time from close range after receiving the ball from another corner kick at the 62-minute mark.
Monterrey, managed by Martín Demichelis, responded late with Sergio Canales managing to score during the stoppage time at the 94th minute, giving Rayados fans something to cheer about. His goal, crafted from a well-placed cross by Ricardo Chávez, echoed the desperation the team felt throughout the match.
Throughout the match, Monterrey exhibited offensive intent, evidenced by attempts from Sergio Canales and Nelson Deossa, but their inability to capitalize on their chances proved costly. Cárdenas, the team's goalkeeper, faced criticism for his performance, particularly for the first goal where he was caught hesitating and did not come off his line effectively.
Looking at the bigger picture, the situation for Monterrey is stark. They have accumulated merely six points from 18 possible, landing them on the brink of elimination from the playoff race. Their current form is disheartening considering they reached the finals last season. The team hasn’t seen the kind of execution and scoring efficiency needed to turn their fortunes around this early in the season.
Jordi Cortizo's late moment heated tensions when he was initially shown a red card for pushing, which was overturned to yellow upon VAR review, showcasing the mounting frustrations within the Monterrey squad.
The defeat against Juárez marks another low point, as the team aims to shake off their inconsistency. This performance especially stings against Juárez, who utilized set pieces effectively and capitalized on their opportunities.
With the next match against Forge FC approaching, legendary coach Demichelis faces tough questions about his tactics and the team's ability to perform under pressure. If Monterrey can't find their groove soon, it could affect their standings as the tournament progresses, marking difficulties for the team's aspirations for playoff contention.
The path forward for Monterrey will require not just tactical adjustments, but also player accountability and cohesive teamwork moving forward. Their match against Forge FC will be pivotal, and players need to step up to bring stability back to the squad.