Club América produced another impressive comeback in the Liga MX Apertura 2026, defeating FC Juárez 2-1 at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez in Matchday 5. Henry Martín was the difference-maker, scoring twice as the Eagles recovered from an early setback to maintain their position at the top of the standings.
The victory continued América’s strong start to the Apertura campaign and gave the team valuable momentum heading into its next challenge in the Leagues Cup. FC Juárez, meanwhile, suffered another difficult result and remained at the bottom of the Liga MX table.
Juárez Takes the Lead
América entered the match as the stronger team on paper, but Juárez showed early signs that it would not make the contest easy.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. José Luis Rodríguez delivered an accurate cross from the left side into the penalty area, where Óscar Estupiñán stretched to meet the ball and turned it into the net.
The goal gave Juárez a 1-0 advantage despite América controlling much of the early possession.
Henry Martín Quickly Responds
América’s response was immediate.
Just five minutes after Juárez opened the scoring, Kevin Álvarez sent a dangerous cross into the area. Henry Martín positioned himself perfectly and headed the ball beyond Sebastián Jurado to level the match at 1-1.
The goal was Martín’s second of the Apertura campaign and shifted the momentum back toward the visitors. Match statistics also showed América controlling 70% of possession and registering 12 shots compared with Juárez’s three.
The teams went into halftime level, setting up a tense second half.
América Completes the Comeback
The decisive moment arrived after halftime when the referee reviewed a possible handball involving Javier Aquino.
After checking the VAR footage, the official awarded América a penalty. Henry Martín took responsibility from the spot and calmly powered his attempt toward the goalkeeper’s right side.
The finish completed Martín’s brace and gave América a 2-1 lead.
From there, Juárez pushed aggressively for an equalizer. Estupiñán came particularly close, with one effort striking the crossbar, while other attempts were denied by Rodolfo Cota and the América defense.
Despite the late pressure, the visitors held firm to secure all three points.
Henry Martín Becomes the Match-Winner
Henry Martín was unquestionably the standout player of the match.
The América captain first demonstrated his aerial ability with his equalizing header before showing composure from the penalty spot to complete the turnaround.
His two goals were especially important because América had fallen behind despite dominating possession and creating more attacking opportunities.
The latest result also adds to Martín’s strong start to the season. He had already scored against Santos earlier in the Apertura and now has another two-goal performance to his name.
América Maintains Its Strong Position
The 2-1 victory keeps América firmly in the conversation at the top of the Apertura 2026 standings.
Before the match, América had collected seven points from its opening three league games, including victories over Querétaro and Santos and a draw against Atlante.
The Eagles’ ability to win after conceding first is another positive sign for Guillermo Almada’s team. Rather than allowing Juárez’s opener to disrupt their rhythm, América continued to attack and eventually found a way to turn the match around.
Juárez’s Difficult Start Continues
For FC Juárez, the defeat adds to a challenging opening stretch of the tournament.
The Bravos had already suffered heavy defeats against Pumas and Monterrey before facing América. Their recent run included a 5-1 loss to Pumas and a 6-1 defeat against Monterrey, highlighting the defensive problems facing the team.
Although Óscar Estupiñán provided another attacking threat and gave Juárez the lead against América, the home side could not capitalize on its opportunities.
The crossbar and several saves from Cota ultimately prevented Juárez from finding the equalizer.
Juárez vs América Head-to-Head
The matchup has generally been favorable to América over the years, although Juárez had recently demonstrated that it can cause problems for the Eagles.
The teams’ recent meetings had included a Juárez victory, draws and several América wins. Before this latest encounter, Juárez had defeated América 2-1 in their previous meeting.
That made Friday’s comeback particularly significant for América, as the Eagles were able to respond to their previous setback in the rivalry.
América’s Starting XI
América started the match with Rodolfo Cota in goal, supported by Israel Reyes, Sebastián Cáceres and Kevin Álvarez.
The midfield featured Alan Cervantes, Raphael Veiga, Erick Sánchez and Dagoberto Espinoza, while Brian Rodríguez and Isaías Violante supported Henry Martín in attack.
The lineup reflected América’s attacking intent, and the team’s statistical dominance during the match backed up that approach.
What’s Next for América?
With the victory secured, América can now turn its attention toward the Leagues Cup.
The Eagles leave Ciudad Juárez with confidence after overcoming an early deficit and demonstrating their ability to manage a difficult away match. Henry Martín’s brace will also provide an important boost to the striker and the team as the schedule becomes increasingly demanding.
For Juárez, the priority will be finding defensive stability and converting more of its scoring opportunities. Estupiñán’s goal and his late chance off the crossbar showed that the Bravos can threaten opponents, but they need greater consistency to turn those moments into points.
Final Result
FC Juárez 1-2 América
Goals:
- Juárez: Óscar Estupiñán, 33′
- América: Henry Martín, 38′
- América: Henry Martín, 53′
América’s comeback victory was built around a combination of possession, attacking pressure and Henry Martín’s clinical finishing. The 2-1 result allows the Eagles to maintain their strong position in the Liga MX Apertura 2026 race, while Juárez must regroup after another defeat.
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