Cruz Azul Champions of the Guard1anes 2021 season!
Its been 24 years since we have heard the “Cruz Azul es campeon!” and finally today los celestes fans, management and players are able to celebrate like it’s 1997.
Yes, 1997 was the last time Cruz Azul was able to hoist up the league title, when they defeated leon.
Los Celestes came into the 2nd leg of the Liga MX Final with a 1-0 advantage, although fans were optimistic. The dreaded “CruzAzuleada” still loomed in the back of many people’s minds and also across all media outlets.
The game began you could feel the excitement and nervousness from all celeste fans. The first 20 minutes of the game was very rigid with few clear opportunities and shots towards goal from either team.
In the 25th minute Cruz Azul, was close to opening the score in the game off a corner kick in which Juan Escobar was able to beat his defender and struck a header towards goal and Santos goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo was able to leap and get a hand on it, knocking it out.
The game continued and it wasnt until the 37th minute, Santos was able to open the score with an amazing shot from just outside the box from Diego Valdez who was able to scrap and and fight for possession just enough to get the shot off leaving Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesus Corona unable to get a hand on it.
The score was now 1-0 in the 2nd leg, and a 1-1 aggregate score that would have led us to extra time if the score was held in regulation.
Cruz Azul tried to fight back just before the end of the first half, as Guillermo Fernández sent a cross that Luis Romo tried to get a head on. After a few bounces off defenders, the ball found the hand of Acevedo who secured the final dangerous play heading into the half.
In the 2nd half Cruz Azul had an opportunity to tie the match as Santiago Gimenez was able to receive the ball for a breakaway and went around a diving acevedo. Gimenez had only a defender between himself and the goal but, Santi was moving away from the goal and sent a cross into the box for a teammate but Santos defenders were able to deflect out.
The 51st minute was what Los Celestes were waiting for after being down early. In a counter attack, Yoshimar Yotún who had just entered in the 2nd half was able to beat defenders and sent a forward pass to Jonathan Rodriguez who was able to get the ball past the diving Acevedo giving Cruz Azul the 1-1 tie and the 2-1 aggregate lead.
Both teams had a few opportunities to score another goal but none could capitalize and after 90+ minutes the referee blew the whistle to end the match and Cruz Azul was able to capture their 9th league title in front of their home crowd.
