The Copa MX 1965/66 was the 24th edition of the football - cup competition since the introduction of professional football in Mexico . The tournament began on February 10, 1966 with the group game between CF Atlante and the eventual finalists Club León (0-2). It ended with the final replay between Club Necaxa and Club León (1-0) held on April 12, 1966 , after the original final encounter two days earlier with the scoring final score of 3: 3 had not found a winner.
The 16 teams that were represented in the top division in the 1965/66 season were eligible to participate . The club Necaxa team won the cup for the second time after assuming professional status in 1950 and for the sixth time .
The tournament began with four preliminary round groups, each of which was assigned four teams. In the group stage, all teams from the same group played against each other twice, with one home right and one away game. The respective group winners qualified for the semi-finals held in the knockout system , which was played in home and return games with one home right for the two opponents, while the final took place at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City .
Preliminary round
The round of 16 matches were played between February 10 and March 20, 1966. The following designation of the groups (with 1, 2, 3 and 4) is only for the sake of clarity, but otherwise purely arbitrary, as the exact designation of the groups has not been handed down. The sorting takes into account, however, that the qualified group winners from the respective neighboring groups (1 and 2 on the one hand and 3 and 4 on the other hand) had to compete against each other in the semifinals. While the two later finalists were able to prevail clearly (both Club León and Club Necaxa scored 11-1 points in the preliminary round, while the respective group runners-up, Atlético Morelia and Deportivo Irapuato , only achieved 7-5 points. It was more exciting in the other two groups.
In the duel between the two giants of Mexican football , Chivas Guadalajara and Club América , both teams were tied with 8-2 points after the penultimate matchday, because they - with the exception of the direct duels, which ended in a draw - all other matches in the group could decide for themselves. Due to the high victories of the team from Guadalajara against the CD Cruz Azul (5: 0 and 4: 0), Chivas was ahead in the goal difference and was considered the favorite for the group win and the associated semi-finals before the last matchday. But the team failed in the away game against the previously winless CD Zacatepec (0: 1), while Club America prevailed at CD Cruz Azul (2: 1).
In the other group, which was set here as Group 3, Deportivo Toluca and Club Deportivo Veracruz were tied with 10-2 points each. Provided that the reported results are correct, it is not understandable why Deportivo Toluca FC ultimately won the group with 11: 6 goals against Club Deportivo Veracruz with 15: 8 goals. Because the team from Veracruz should have prevailed both in terms of goal difference and goal quotient . Maybe the away goals rule already applied back then (Toluca won the home game 1-0 and lost 2: 3 in Veracruz) or the group win was brought about by drawing lots ?
The first legs of the semi-finals were played on March 27 and the second legs on March 31 and April 3, 1966. The later cup winner Necaxa was only able to prevail against Deportivo Toluca in extra time .
