Jonathan Gonzalez caps rookie campaign with Copa MX title

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 22, 2017

Californian Jonathan Gonzalez, 18, capped off a sensational rookie campaign with Monterrey  when he started for the Rayados in their 1-0 win over Omar Gonzalez's Pachuca in the final of the Copa MX, the last game of the Torneo Apertura season.



Monterrey won on Colombian Aviles Hurtado's goal in the second half before 35,658 fans at Monterrey's Estadio BBVA Bancomer.

The final was billed as the "Copa de Consolación." Hurtado's late miss from the penalty spot cost top-seed Monterrey a chance to tie archrival Tigres in the final of the Liga MX, which it lost, 2-1.

American champions in Copa MX
1996 Tab Ramos (Tigres)
C2014 Jose Torres (Tigres)
C2015 Michael Orozco (Puebla)
C2016 Jonathan Bornstein (Queretaro)
A2017 Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey)

Jonathan Gonzalez finished the Torneo Apertura with appearances in 27 of Monterrey's 31 games in Liga MX and Copa MX. He won a starting spot in preseason because central midfielder Jesus Molina was with Mexico for the Gold Cup, and he held on to it throughout the fall. Gonzalez was one of four Monterrey players named to the Liga MX Best XI team along with Nicolas Sanchez, Leonel Vangioni and Hurtado.

Gonzalez began the year by playing for the USA at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship. Since debuting for Monterrey, he has attracted interest from Mexico's national team -- he'd have to agree to a switch of association to play for El Tri -- and clubs in Europe, including Borussia Dortmund.

Omar Gonzalez was looking for his third title in the years with Pachuca. He won the 2016 Torneo Clausura and 2017 Concacaf Champions League that qualified the Tuzos for the 2017 Club World Cup. The final was delayed because of Pachuca's participation in the Club World Cup, where it finished third.