Liga MX Repechaje: Cruz Azul 1-0 Club León: summary: score, goals, highlights
Cruz Azul advances to the next round
The celebration continues
Cruz Azul fans keep celebrating the team defeating Club Léon 1-0 in the 'repechaje' to advance to the play-offs.
The hero of the night
Match report:
León had the ball the majority of the game, but didn't know what to do with it. Cruz Azul was the most dangerous team throughout the 90 minutes and they found the back of the net in the second half. Ignacio Rivero scored the only goal of the match following a missed clearance from Rodolfo Cota and that was enough for the home side to advanced to the quarter-finals.
Towards the end of the game there where two possible penalty calls for each side but both, the referee and the VAR, decided not to award them and the game ended 1-0 in favor of Cruz Azul. This was a very important win for La Máquina's manager Raúl Gutiérrez because this will secure him his return next season. Now the task is to advance to the semi-finals and attempt to win their 10th title in franchise history.
The game has ended! Cruz Azul advances to the next round of the play-offs and Club León's season comes to an end.
Rodolfo Cota is not human! The goalkeeper from León makes three back-to-back saves to prevent Cruz Azul from scoring the second goal of the night.
The referee Fernando Guerrero checked the play and determined that it was not a handball from Huescas and the game resumes. The ball hit the knee first of the Cruz Azul player and then his hand, so the ref has decided that it was not a penalty.
Penalty given to León following a handball from a player from Cruz Azul.
The VAR is checking a possible penalty following a foul against Michael Estrada from Cruz Azul inside the box. After checking the play, the ref has resumed the game.
Cruz Azul showing great determination on defense every time León tries to build a play.
Six minutes added of stoppage time.
Cruz Azul makes their last substitutions:
In: Ángel Romero and Michael Estrada
Out: Carneiro and Rotondi
Uriel Antuna hits the post! The Mexico international received a long ball and after dribbling the defender, he released a low shot that hit the post. What an opportunity to give Cruz Azul the 2-0 lead.
Cruz Azul is four minutes from reaching five consecutive wins under manager 'Potro' Gutiérrez and clinching a play-off spot.
Substitution for Club León:
In: Elías Hernández
Out: Joel Campbell
Double booking. The ref has awarded a yellow card to Yairo Moreno (Club León) and Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul).
Once again Cruz Azul is able to clear the ball following a corner kick taken by Luis Montes.
Corner kick for León following a clearance from Cruz Azul.
Carlos Rodríguez is booked.
Lucas Di Yorio almost scored following a mistake from Cruz Azul. The Club Léon striker entered the box and released a shot that barely went wide because it was blocked last minute by a defender.
Cruz Azul fans are roaring following the goal
Substitution for Cruz Azul:
In: Alonso Escoboza
Out: Nacho Rivero
Substitution for León:
In: Luis Montes
Out: José Rodríguez
Uriel Antuna is the most dangerous player on the field for Cruz Azul. The home side keeps giving him the ball down the right flank and the Mexico international is having a night dribbling past defenders.
Nacho Rivero finds the back of the net following a poor clearance from Rodolfo Cota inside the box. A great solo play from Uriel Antuna down the right flank and he was able to release a low cross that was not cleared by Cota and Rivero was there to tap the ball.
GOL! GOAL GOLAZO! Cruz Azul scores the first goal of the game after 72 minutes.
Substitutions for Club León:
In: José Alvarado.
Out: Víctor Dávila.
NO GOAL! Uriel Antuna was off side and the VAR has confirmed this. We remain 0-0 after 68 minutes.
The VAR is checking for a possible off side from Uriel Antuna following Carneiro's goal.
Carneiro scores the first goal of the night after a series of rebounds, but prior to him scoring, Uriel Antuna, who gave Carneiro the pass, was off side. Right now the VAR is checking the play to confirm the call from the referee.
So far this half, The most dangerous play for León comes at the 54th minute with Yairo finding a cutting Di Yorio.
Joel Campbell attempts a shot from outside the box, but it went wide.
Quick transitions from both sides, but they are not accurate in the last pass.
Víctor Dávila shoots from a close range, but a defender from Cruz Azul was able to blocked it and the ball barely went wide. A corner kick was awarded to León, but nothing happened.
Lucas Di Yorio's shot went wide following a great cross from Yairo Moreno. The Club León striker was inside the sixth, but he was well marked by a defender and he was not able to make a clean hit to the ball.
Huescas released a powerful shot from inside the box from a tight angle and the ball barely went wide. Good attempt from Cruz Azul early in the second half.
Uriel Antuna makes a cross from the right flank, but no player from Cruz Azul was near the ball to attempt a shot on goal.
Carlos Rodríguez attempted a shot from outside the box following a corner kick from Cruz Azul.
Third corner kick awarded to Club León. The visiting side is pressing high in search of a mistake from Cruz Azul that they can capitalize. Nothing happened following the corner kick.
No changes made for the second half.
We are back in play for the second 45 minutes from Mexico City.
The teams slowly return to the pitch at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Work ahead for Cruz Azul and Club León
León had the ball the majority of the first half, but didn't know what to do with it. Only one shot on target by Yairo Moreno, and not very many dangerous opportunities created. One more half to go.
The whistle sounds with Cruz Azul and Club León returning to their respective locker rooms after a 0-0 draw in the first 45 minutes.
Two minutes added of stoppage time.
Corner kick for Club Léon following Cata Dominguez' blocking a cross attempt from Di Yorio.
Castillo is receiving medical attention after a hard tackle from Riveiro. The VAR could intervene, but the ref has decided it was a clean tackle and the game resumes.
Víctor Dávila dribbles past a defender and attempts a cross looking for Yairo Moreno, but it was not accurate and Cruz Azul regains possession of the ball.
First shot on target from Club León. This time Yairo Moreno released a shot from a long distance that was easily controlled by goalkeeper Jesús Corona.
37 minutes in, León with major possession at 70% while Cruz Azul have had the most dangerous attempts on their counter attacks.
What a blocked from Rodolfo Cota! After a rebound, the ball landed in front of Carneiro and the Cruz Azul attacker released a powerful shot inside the box, but Cota came out to blocked it.
This has been a very slow game because of the amount of fouls that both teams are committing. Cruz Azul has committed three and Club León 7, with no bookings for either side.
Cruz Azul has been the best team at the half an hour mark. Carneiro headers the ball and it barely went wide following a corner kick take from Charly Rodríguez.
A poorly corner kick taken from Club León and Cruz Azul regains the possession of the ball.
'Cata' Domínguez makes a great block to prevent Moreno from crossing the ball. Corner kick for Club León.
Early substitution for Cruz Azul:
In: Juan Escobar
Out: Rafael Guerrero
Rotondi blocks his own teammate's shot! Carneiro dribbled past a defender and before running out of space, he passed the ball to Huescas, who released a powerful low shot, but it was accidently blocked by his own teammate, Rotondi.
Lucas Di Yorio's header barely goes wide following a cross from the left flank. The Club León striker wanted a corner kick, but the ref gave the ball back to Cruz Azul.
This time Club León attempts a shot on goal. Lucas Di Yoria attempts a bicycle kick inside the box following a cross from the left flank, but his shot goes over the goal.
A Free kick from Club Léon ends up hitting the wall.
Once again Cruz Azul with the missed opportunity. Nacho Rivero makes a perfect cross from the left flank and once again Uriel Antuna is unable to make a clean hit. He had time and no one around him and the Mexico international's shot goes wide.
Cruz Azul answers back, again! Gonzalo Carneiro steals the ball and gives it to Rontondi. The Cruz Azul winger runs down the right flank and releases a perfect cross to Uriel Antuna, but the Mexico international's strike was easily controlled by goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.
A defensive mistake from Cruz Azul! A bad pass in the last third ends up in Víctor Dávila's boot and the León striker tried to cross the ball to his teammate, but it was not accurate enough.
Cruz Azul answers back! 'La Máquina' with a quick counter attack transitioned from defense to offense in a matter of seconds. Uriel Antuna received a long through ball and he was able to beat a defender from León with his speed and as when he entered the box he was running out of space, so he released a powerful shot that went over the goal.
Club León is now controlling the tempo of the game and after five minutes we have the first shot. The visiting side moved the ball from right to left and it ended in a nice cross to Víctor Dávila inside the box. The León striker was able to control the ball and attempted a half volley that went ove the goal.
A very slow start of the game with both teams struggling to control the possession of the ball, with a lot of sloppy passes and fouls constantly stopping the game.
Confirmed lineups...
Once again this are the starting XI's from Cruz Azul and Club Léon for the 'repechaje' match that is played at Estadio Azteca.
And off we go...
All set at Estadio Azteca as Fernando Guerrero our ref from Mexico concludes the final pre game protocols. Club León set to start the action....
Tigres clinches a play-off spot
In the first 'repechaje' match of the tournament, Andrés Pierre-Gignac came to the rescue with a brace to give Tigres UANL the 2-0 win over Necaxa and they will face Club Pachuca next week in the start of the play-offs.
This is a very important game for the manager Raúl Gutiérrez, who recently took over the Cruz Azul job, because a defeat could see his time come to an end with 'La Máquina.' The positive note is that since he was appointed the capital-based team has won the last four regular season games and thanks to him they are playing in the 'repechaje' against Club León.
The people in charge at Cruz Azul don't see Raúl Gutiérrez managing the team in the long-term, but a dominant performance tonight and a win, will secure him the job next tournament. There is a lot at stake for the Mexican manager because he wants to hold on to the job as long as possible.
León fans arrived to Estadio Azteca
The fans from 'La Fiera' have arrived to Estadio Azteca to support their team in the most important game so far in the 2022 Apertura tournament. A couple of thousands of people that support Club Léon made the trip from Guanajuato to Mexico City for the 'repechaje' game and they hope that their team walks away with a much needed win.
There is no tomorrow for both teams because the winner secures a spot in the play-offs this tournament and the loser goes home. A team most win and Cruz Azul has the home-field advantage, so this game will be played at Estadio Azteca because they finished in seventh place in the standings at the end of the regular season.
All eyes on Saturday night will be on the Estadio Azteca as Cruz Azul face Club León in one of the highlights of the four play-off round matches this weekend as the teams who finished fifth through to twelfth in the regular league look to stake a place in the quarter finals.
The four winners from these ‘repechaje’ games will face the top four from the regular season in: Club America, Monterrey, Pachuca and Santos Laguna.
Cruz Azul's starting XI
Club León's starting XI
Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage from Mexico City as Cruz Azul is looking to defeat Club León at Estadio Azteca in the second game of the Liga MX play-offs this Saturday.