Club Querétaro advanced to the Leagues Cup 2023 quarterfinals, defying the pre-tournament odds, after eliminating the New England Revolution in a penalty shootout.
One of the key players in that win was goalkeeper Fernando Tapia, who saved two shots during the penalty kick shootout to help los Gallos Blancos advance.
He also made a decisive save in the previous round, stopping an Eduardo Salvio penalty shot, to help secure a 1-0 win over Pumas.
Who is Fernando Tapia?
Tapia is just 22 years old, is 1.85 meters tall and came on loan last July from Club América.
His opportunity arose when Club Queréraro starting goalkeeper Guillermo Allison suffered a significant injury. With no appropriate replacement internally, the club went out and signed Tapia on loan, giving the young goalkeeper his first opportunity to start regularly and prove himself in LIGA MX.
Previously he came up through América’s academy system, starting when he was 15. While the club considered him an important part of their future, he wasn’t going to get minutes playing with the first team. In 2023, he was loaned to Vernados FC of the MX Expansion League.
He made 11 starts, allowing just 12 goals and earned three clean sheets in his time with Vernados FC. It was intended for him to stay with that club for the season but the opportunity to jump up a level and play in LIGA MX came with Querétaro’s loan offer.
The loan is just for six months with an option to buy him outright in case the club decides they would like to keep him to fight for the No. 1 position with Allison when he returns.
Tapia was the goalkeeper of the Mexico U23 team that won a gold medal in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, a major reason Querétaro was paying attention to him.
At this Leagues Cup, he’s given Querétaro plenty of reasons to want to keep him beyond his loan term, and he can add another reason if he can challenge the Union in the quarterfinals.
