Matchday 15: Cruz Azul ekes out a win; cagey Necaxa outsmarts Santos Laguna

Playing against the worst defense in Liga MX, Cruz Azul coach Martín Anselmi outsmarted himself. 

And when it was obvious that his “strategy” wasn’t working, Anselmi was slow to make changes.

The first-year coach opted to bench his starting striker Ángel Sepúlveda in favor of a 5-3-2 line-up. The result was confusion in midfield and no target in the box to aim at.

At times, the Cementeros seemed at a loss as to how to attack the bunched-up Puebla defense, exhibiting little patience and too often settling for shots from distance.

Cellar-dwellers put up a fight

Cruz Azul dominated possession and outshot last-place Puebla 13-7 in the first half, but the Camoteros had more shots on goal through the first 45 minutes (3-1). 

Poor decisions in their offensive third and awful centering passes were to blame.

And there was little improvement in the second half, Cruz Azul occasionally looked dangerous but were constantly ruining their moves forward with unforced errors, especially poor first-touches that all too often resulted in turnovers.

By game’s end, “La Máquina Azul” had taken 24 shots, only 5 of which were on target. But it was the one from the penalty spot that earned 3 points for Cruz Azul.

In minute 90, Carlos Rodríguez sent a corner kick over the scrum to the back post where Sepúlveda rose above his marker and headed it … right into the raised hand of Puebla defender Gustavo Ferrareis.

With several Camoteros screaming in her face, ref Katia Itzel García announced that a video review convinced her a penalty had been committed. 

Cruz Azul’s leading scorer Uriel Antuna converted the spot kick and the 1-0 score held up, boosting the Cementeros into third place momentarily.

Antuna is now tied with Pachuca's Salomón Rondón atop the Liga MX Golden Boot table, each with eight goals.

Opportunistic Rayos move closer to Liga MX playoff return

Necaxa’s magical Cinderella season continued with a now-familiar against-all-odds victory.

The Rayos ceded possession from the get-go, absorbing pressure – lots of it – and chasing the counterattack. And it worked … again, producing a 2-0 victory over visiting Santos Laguna.

The win lifted “los Electricistas” to 27 points and 5th place in the Liga MX table, just a season after the club finished dead last in the standings.

Santos Laguna held the ball 74% of the game (talk about sterile possession!), but failed to create clear looks at goal. 

The Guerreros did not take a single shot in the first half. Not one. 

Meanwhile, with just one-quarter of possession, Necaxa managed to take six shots in the first half, two of which were on target. And Ricardo Monreal’s shot in minute 40 found its way past Carlos Acevedo, allowing the Rayos to go to the locker room leading 1-0.

The second half was more of the same, and Braiain Samudio’s 55th-minute goal effectively finished off the game.

The Rayos finished the night with a 15-4 advantage in shots, 6-1 with regard to shots on goal.  

Although Necaxa has not mathematically clinched an invitation to the Liga MX postseason party, Eduardo Fentanes’ men can reliably start packing for the playoffs. The last time the Rayos qualified for the playoffs was after the Apertura 2022 season.

Gularte ejection proves costly for Gallos Blancos 

Querétaro saw defender Emanuel Gularte justifiably red-carded just 14 minutes into the match and Mazatlán FC took advantage. 

The 2-0 loss could see the Gallos Blancos fall outside the playoff spots by the end of the weekend. And with just two games remaining, that would be a tough position to be in.

This is especially true as they close out the season with a road trip to Guadalajara before hosting UNAM. Complicating matters, both upcoming opponents are jockeying for playoff berths as well.