The best attack in Liga MX femenil and the importance of crossing zones

Data from Wyscout. Photo from OnceDiario.

América femenil had a disappointing start to Apertura 2024. Las Águilas only won 3 of their first 8 Liga MX femenil matches, and lost 2 out of 3 in the Summer Cup against NWSL teams.

But after defeat to Portland Thorns, their results have been remarkable. América scored 51 goals in 13 league matches (3.9 per game!), racked-up 14 goals in 3 clásicos versus Chivas and won every match apart from 2 draws against Tigres. A quarter-final exit (due to a lower league placing than Tigres) was a disappointment, but América have qualified for the CONCACAF W Champions Cup semi-finals and look like the best team in Mexico right now. 3 games into this season, América have won all 3, already scoring 14 times.

Metrics from Wyscout to show América femenil’s attacking force

A left-wing strength and the importance of crossing zones

One of the key findings from data analysis in football regards the importance of crossing zones. Back in 2020, I produced an analysis of crossing in Liga MX, and the impact of different zones.

A historic analysis from Garry Gelade showed that only 2.22% of crosses lead to goals (taking into account direct and indirect, or second phase, goals). However, more than 7% of crosses from a zone inside or very close to the box, create goals. Also, from those zones it’s easier to play a cut-back pass and create a foot-shot, which have higher xG values (goal probability) than a headed shot.

Gelade’s crossing zones. “Zone 4” is much more effective for creating goals.

Many teams around the world use strategies to attempt to progress the ball into a more dangerous zone before crossing, and América femenil is a good example. América have created a noteworthy amount of assists from crosses and cut-backs from inside or close to the penalty area, on their left-flank.

Above all else, this graphic shows América’s trend of creating goals from cut-backs on the left-side, from inside of the penalty area.

Also, we can visualize América femenil’s clear attacking idea by separating goals from inside and outside of the box. América stand-out for the goal creation inside the box, and aren’t a team that depend on long shots, which have a lower xG (goal probability) and are less reliable.

América’s pressing effectiveness is another major strength, and an important factor in their high attacking threat creation.

This heat map shows where América tend to generate ball recoveries, per third, in reference to other teams in the league. América frequently recover the ball in the final or middle thirds.

Blue = Fewer recoveries in the 3rd than league average

Red = More recoveries in the 3rd than league average

In their 9 consecutive league victories, following the Portland Thorns loss and before liguilla, Las Águilas created 30 shots after final 3rd recoveries, and 6 goals. For comparison, in the same run of fixtures, Monterrey created 16 shots and 2 goals, whilst Tigres managed more shots (31) but only 1 goal. For América, their high pressing isn’t just a method of controlling possession, but also a way to create chances and goals.

Ángel Villalcampa already has one title with América femenil, and if they can maintain this level of performance and attacking efficiency, he may be adding another soon.

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