Liga MX rivals offer Cruz Azul hope after 3-0 LAFC rout in worst CONCACAF defeat
Cruz Azul's defeat in Los Angeles not only leaves them on the brink of elimination, but also became their worst defeat in the tournament's history.
Cruz Azul suffered a dramatic setback in Los Angeles and now appears all but out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after a heavy defeat to LAFC. It marks the joint-largest loss the club has ever endured in North America’s premier regional competition.
Dominant LAFC leaves Cruz Azul on the brink
The MLS side controlled the match from start to finish, handing Cruz Azul a convincing 3-0 defeat. Under head coach Nicolás Larcamón, La Máquina now face a steep uphill battle to avoid elimination and keep their hopes of reclaiming the regional title alive.
Across all of their CONCACAF appearances, Cruz Azul have now lost 22 times, but never by more than three goals.
Historic low for La Máquina in CONCACAF competition
The result in Los Angeles equals the club’s worst defeat in CONCACAF Champions Cup history, stretching back more than 50 years.
Monterrey beat Cruz Azul 4-1 on September 16, 2021, although Cruz Azul did at least score in that game, avoiding a shutout. This time, they left empty-handed and without a response.
A mountain to climb, but not an impossible one
Despite the damage, Cruz Azul still have hope heading into the second leg at home. The club can draw confidence from past comebacks by Mexican teams in similar situations.
Recent Mexican comebacks from 3-0 deficits
The last three times a team has overturned a 3-0 deficit or worse in the competition, it was a Mexican side.
In 2015, Club América lost 3-0 away to Herediano in Costa Rica, but stormed back in the second leg with a 6-0 win at home.
In 2022, Pumas fell 3-0 at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution. They matched that scoreline in the return leg and advanced on penalties.
More recently, just weeks ago in this same edition of the tournament, Tigres were beaten 3-0 by FC Cincinnati in the United States. Back in Monterrey, they responded with a dominant 5-1 victory to book their place in the quarterfinals.
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