International Leagues

Cruz Azul suffered too much but is in the semifinals of the Liga MX

By Mauricio Saenz

La Máquina turned the series against Toluca and is among the four best

La Máquina turned the series against Toluca and is among the four best

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He was the best in the regular season and to be among the top four, he suffered too much. Cruz Azul continues to dream of the Liga MX title. La Máquina made the home weight weigh on the return of the fans to the Azteca Stadium and in a shouting match beat Toluca 3-1 in the second leg of the quarterfinals, getting their pass to the semifinals after a score of 4-3 global.

The cement group assumed responsibility from the beginning, knowing that it needed a victory. Just 10 minutes into the game, the locals went ahead through Bryan Angulo, after a serve from Jonathan Cabecita Rodríguez.

The action came from the feet of Luis Romo, who enabled the Uruguayan to the second post. Cabecita service could not be connected by Juan Escobar, but by Angulo. The advantage of those led by Juan Reynoso only lasted three minutes, since at 13' the Devils tied thanks to the Liga MX scorer, Alexis Canelo. The Argentine defined first after a three-finger stroke by Rubens Sambueza.

The rest of the first half had Luis García as a figure. The scarlet goalkeeper saved at least three clear scoring opportunities: a header from Pablo Aguilar at minute 36 and two immediate actions just 60 seconds later.

The beginning of the complement kept the libretto of the initial part. La Máquina pressured a Toluca who made the counterattack his best weapon. As the minutes passed, the cement workers lost intensity and Juan Reynoso refreshed with five movements, among them the entry of Misael Domínguez to the field.

The Celestial attacker was key in the play that made the Azteca Stadium explode. At minute 78 Misael enabled Luis Romo with a heel strike, who was knocked down by José Juan Gallito Vázquez. Penalty for the locals. The maximum penalty was capitalized by Cabecita Rodríguez, who despite slipping at the time of collection, sent her to keep to the right of Luis García, who endured until the last moment and remained in the center of his arc.

The final minutes were pure drama, until La Noria's men again released the goal cry at 93'. Santiago Giménez escaped in a counterattack and enabled Cabecita Rodríguez, who returned his partner to seal the ticket to the semis. With the result Cruz Azul became, together with Puebla, a semifinalist in the Liga MX. La Máquina would face Pachuca, in case the Tuzos maintain the advantage of the first leg against America.

Cruz Azul vs Toluca, Liga MX: Highlights

 


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