Cruz Azul bounced again to get a 2-1 victory over Pumas to win their tenth Liga MX title and turn into the Clausura 2026 champions. Cruz Azul was the higher crew however they went right down to a considerably early objective however got here again in a 2nd half that was disastrous for the house crew. Cruz Azul received their 2nd title within the Estadio Olimpico Universitario after successful the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup in opposition to Vancouver Whitecaps in that very same stadium.
The first half began with Pumas popping out from the beginning with whereas Cruz Azul got here out with their typical liguilla 11. A mistake from Cruz Azul nearly allowed a 1 vs 1 for Robert Morales however was in a position to clear the ball. From outdoors the realm, bought off a left footed shot that pressured an ideal save from Pumas’ goalkeeper, . Additionally from outsid the realm, Agustin Palavecino bought off a proper footed shot that pressured one other nice save from Navas. After a conflict with Carrasquilla, Jose Paradela appeared to have injurd himself however he remained within the sport. A low cross into the realm was volleyed broad by Carlos Rodriguez. From means outdoors the realm, Rodrigo Lopez bought off an ideal proper footed shot that pressured a superb save from Cruz Azul’s goalkeeper, . Off a counter, the ball would find yourself attending to however his shot was blocked into the trail of Robert Morales, who bought off an ideal proper footed shot previous Mier to attain and provides Pumas the 1-0 lead. After getting the ball within the space, bought off a proper footed shot that will go simply broad. Cruz Azul subbed out the injured Jose Paradela for Gabriel Fernandez. A cross into the realm was headed from shut vary by Rotondi however Navas made a beautiful save. Off one other counter, Juninho would discover Morales within the space, who bought off a low proper footed shot that pressured a superb save from Mier. The halftime whistle blew and though Cruz Azul had been the higher aspect, Pumas had the lead and had been nearer to the title win.
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The 2nd half began with neither crew making a change in the course of the break. A cross into the realm would fall to Rodriguez however he didn’t get off a shot and as an alternative ship a cross that went broad, in a nasty miss. After successful the ball simply outdoors the realm, Juninho would get off a shot previous Mier to attain however the objective was disallowed for a transparent handball from the Pumas attacker. Off a fast counter, bought off a shot that was deflected broad. A cross into the realm by Rotondi could be cleared by Alvaro Angulo however proper to Ruben Duarte, who deflected the ball into the web to attain an personal objective that tied the match at 1-1. It was a nasty defensive mistake from Pumas and the crew appeared to have been harm by that mistake. After hurting himself in a slide, Carrasquilla appeared to have injured himself as he was crying on the sector. Pumas needed to sub out the injured Adalberto Carrasquilla for . From means outdoors the realm, bought off an ideal left footed shot that will pressure Navas to make one other nice save. Due to damage, Ruben Duarte needed to be subbed out for Pablo . After making a foul, Amaury Garcia appeared to have injured himself. He could be subbed out and Jorge Rodarte got here in for him. Carrillo bought off a proper footed shot from outdoors the realm that was deflected broad. Off the following nook kick, Bennevendo bought off a header that went simply broad. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez for Angel Rico. After a harsh foul by Uriel Antuna on Jeremy Marquez, the referee would go to VAR and provides him the purple card, leaving Pumas with 10 gamers. A go into the realm would bounce round and fall to Carlos Rotondi, who bought off a left footed shot previous Navas to attain and provides Cruz Azul the 2-1 lead in damage time. Issues appeared greater than bleak for the house aspect and extremely optimistic for Cruz Azul. After a late sort out, Angel Rico bought purple carded. Rico, who added nothing to Pumas after entering into, is a superb instance that whereas Pumas improved over Juarez, their youth degree merchandise proceed to be extremely poor. It will be the final play as Cruz Azul would maintain on to get their victory and their tenth League title in .
Cruz Azul had been deserving champions after defeating Pumas by a 2-1 rating. Though Pumas had completed at prime of the standings, their Liguilla had not be nice and so they had been the inferior crew within the 180 minutes of the ultimate. Cruz Azul had been clearly superior within the first leg, and though they weren’t that dominating within the 2nd leg,they had been the marginally higher crew. Worse but for Pumas’ followers, the win is the second title for Cruz Azul received within the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, after they performed there in the course of the Estadio Azteca transforming, the place they defeated Vancouver Whitecaps within the last. The higher information for Cruz Azul was the shining match by Carlos Rotondi, who had been criticized in previous liguillas for errors in opposition to America. Not solely was he the scorer of the final minute objective however he was one of the best participant for Cruz Azul. Cruz Azul spent years with out a title (From 1997 till 2021) however have now received their second title and prolonged Pumas’ lack of Liga MX titles to fifteen years. Coach Joel Huiqui additionally turned champion after solely taking the crew within the last months, when Nicolas Larcamon was fired. General, it was an historic evening for Cruz Azul, who will clearly struggle for a spot among the many prime groups in Mexico.