Cementeros remain in hunt for ninth Liga MX title

Top-seeded Cruz Azul will have a chance to end its nearly 24-year Liga MX title drought next weekend at Estadio Azteca.

Santi Giménez scored early in the second half and “Chuy” Corona made two tremendous saves to preserve the advantage as the Cementeros edged past No. 8 seed Pachuca in a 1-0 thriller at the “Coloso de Santa Ursula.”

“La Máquina” is back in the Liga MX Finals for the first time since December 2018 and, as the top seed, they are guaranteed to host the return match. In the other semifinal series, No. 3 seed Puebla was unable to over a 3-0 first-leg deficit, coming up short against Santos Laguna, the No. 5 seed.

This will be Cruz Azul’s seventh Finals appearance since last hoisting the trophy in December 1997.

Best Liga MX defense makes presence felt

After a scoreless draw in the first leg at Pachuca, Cruz Azul knew another clean slate would be enough to gain the Final (as the higher seed in case of another 0-0 result), and as the best defense in Liga MX (13 goals allowed, 8 shut-outs in the regular season) but that doesn’t mean they were not pressing for a goal.

During the opening 45 minutes, the two clubs probed for gaps while remaining tactically disciplined. Cruz Azul carried into the box several times, but managed only three feeble shots before the break. Pachuca, was smoother with possession, but rarely good a clean look at Corona standing between the pipes behind the Big Blue Back Line.

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The second half opened with a frenzied exchange of punches and counterpunches. Corona made a lunging save off a rocket from sub Víctor Guzmán, then his counterpart, Oscar Ustari, thwarted Giménez who was trying to finish off a lightning-quick Cruz Azul fast break.

Two minutes after that flurry of activity, Luis Romo had time to survey the field from outside the box on the right side. Anticipating Giménez making a diagonal run from the back side, Romo curled in a cross and “Chaquito” met it at the penalty spot, flicking it toward the back post where it clanged off the metal before settling in the netting.

Pachuca didn’t panic. Paulo Pezzolano and crew knew they always needed a goal to advance and a 1-1 result would send the Tuzos through on the away-goals rule.

Just seven minutes later, Corona came up big, making a reflex save off a close-range Oscar Murillo header. Pablo Aguilar quickly cleared away the rebound.

The Tuzos managed a couple more shots on goal, but did not truly test Corona again. Cruz Azul thought Juan Escobar had made it 2-0 right on the hour, only to realize the side judge had raised his flag for offside.

Coach Juan Reynoso shifted his alignment, inserting “Shaggy” Martínez to give the Cementeros a 5-man back line for the final 15 minutes and “La Máquina Celeste” was able to see out the match. Sub Walter Montoya nearly punctuated the win in minute 89, letting rip from 22 meters and forcing an acrobatic save by Ustari.

The game was marred by a melee moments before the final whistle with several red cards being brandished. The ruckus started after the Cruz Azul bench objected to a stamp on Jonathan Rodríguez near the sideline. After cooler heads prevailed, Tuzos defender Gustavo Cabral was sent to an early shower as were a Cruz Azul coach and a Pachuca sub.

Odd & Ends

Juan Reynoso – the captain of the 1997 title-winning Cementeros team – is trying to become the seventh person in Liga MX history to win a title as both a player and a coach with the same franchise. The six who’ve done it already: Carlos Reinoso – América; Bora Milutinovic – Pumas; “Tuca” Ferretti – Pumas; Hugo Sánchez – Pumas; Guillermo Vázquez – Pumas; Javier “Chepo” de la Torre – Chivas.

Saturday’s 1-0 setback was the sixth straight road loss against the Cementeros for the Tuzos who are 0-1-7 since winning at Estadio Azul on July 19, 2014.

Home teams are now 12-3-0 (33 goals for, 11 goals against) in the Liga MX playoffs thus far.