‘La Máquina’ revs up offense early, survives late lapses to secure No. 8 seed

Cementeros to face Zorros for spot in quarterfinals

Cruz Azul snatched the No. 8 seed and a home game on Wildcard Weekend by holding on for a 3-2 win over Santos Laguna in a game the Cementeros nearly gave away.

Atlas’ draw at Atlético de San Luis earlier Saturday night had installed the Zorros (21 points) in eighth place based on goal differential. With the win at Estadio Azteca, “La Máquina Azul” climbed to 24 points and they’ll face Atlas – the No. 9 seed – next weekend.

The closer-than-it-should-have-been victory ends the Cementeros’ three-game winless streak (0-1-2) and points them toward the playoffs with a modicum of momentum and perhaps some confidence.

The Blue Machine has had trouble scoring this season (18 goals) – among playoff teams, only Atlético de San Luis has scored fewer (16) – hitting the 3-goal mark just one other time all season. And that came back on Matchday 6.

On the other hand, the Cementeros wasted several clear chances to put this game away early after building a 3-0 lead, then got careless down the stretch.

Lax marking allowed Diego Medina time to tee up a shot in minute 87 and a bonehead penalty by Rodrigo Huescas – the kind of mistake that coach Tuca Ferretti won’t tolerate even if you are contributing a goal and an assist – saw Santos Laguna cut the deficit to 3-2 just a few minutes later.

Fortunately, “La Máquina” saw out the victory and the Huescas-Antuna tag-team spectacle did not go for naught.

Cruz Azul shows early spark

Augusto Lotti started the scoring for Cruz Azul in minute 21 and 20 minutes later the 19-year-old Huescas doubled the lead, taking a lovely feed from Uriel Antuna and roofing it from inside 15 meters.

Just past the hour mark, Antuna sent Huescas into the right side of the box with a lead pass, but the teenager’s cross was blocked. The ball clattered off the post and bounced to Santos fullback Omar Campos on the touch line.

Huescas swooped in and picked Campos’ pocket just to the right of goal, turned with possession and found Antuna unmarked at the edge of the 6-yard box.  The El Tri man one-timed it into the back of the net and it was 3-0 Cruz Azul.

For the next 20 minutes or so, Cruz Azul buzzed around the Santos area and mishit shot after shot. Then came the late-game blunders that nearly cost the Cementeros the win.

Liga MX playoff match-ups remain up in the air

The complete Wildcard Weekend bracket awaits the results of Sunday’s triple-header. Seeds 8 through 12 are set, but Toluca (29 points), Pachuca (28) and León (27) are battling over the No. 4 seed and the first-round bye that goes with it.

Tigres (25) has clinched no worse than the No. 7 seed, but they could finish as high as fifth. The northern giants visit León with more than playoff seeding on their minds.

Tigres holds a 2-1 edge over these same Esmeraldas after the first-leg of their Concacaf Champions League semifinal series. With the second leg also at León’s Camp Nou on Wednesday, both coaches will be alert to fatigue and might even manage key players’ minutes ahead of the rematch.