Cruz Azul rebounded from its first loss of the season midweek, defeating Chivas 1-0 Saturday night in one of the best games of the season so far.
Martín Anselmi was forced to play with usual right-wingback Jorge Sanchez out of position as his right center-back because of Gonzalo Piovi’s red-card in Tuesday’s loss against Atlético San Luis
Both teams started well with Chivas trying to turn the game into a track meet. They attacked the spaces and tried to play very direct vertical passes to the wings in search of crosses. Fernando Gago’s team tried to press very high; however, as Cruz Azul has demonstrated since Anselmi’s arrival, it’s a team coached to beat the press and advance forward. Cruz Azul looked dangerous whenever Luis Romo abandoned his position in midfield and ventured into the box unmarked, but he failed to score on the night.
The tune didn't change much in the early stages of the second half. Both teams tried to keep the ball and push forward. Each team had scoring chances that both keepers dealt with well. The draw lasted until the 60th minute when Carlos Rodríguez sent in a corner that captain Ignacio Rivero managed to volley into the back of the net for his fourth goal in Apertura 2024.
Cruz Azul grew in the game immediately after the goal, but was unable to add another goal to its lead. Chivas didn't give up though, and pushed forward in the last 15 minutes in search of an equalizer. Gago's team came close a couple of times; however, goalkeeper Kevin Mier was a brick wall, making important saves to keep the clean sheet and preserve the victory.
The 1-0 win solidifies Cruz Azul's place atop of Liga MX as we arrived to the halfway point of Apertura 2024.
