Fortunately for the Cruz Azul, there was no need to beat the USA to knock them out and advance to the finals.
But that requires something that hasn’t been achieved since the last century: winning a Liguilla tie.
It’s been five years since La Maquina won a Ligue 1 against the USA, but 25 years since they were knocked out in the final. They say that the longer a streak is, the more likely it will end, but in the case of this tournament, it seems that each streak makes the Azulcrema team more powerful.
· Last tie in favor of Cruz Azul: Winter 1999
Cruz Azul’s last win in Liguilla: May 12, 2019
· Qualified against USA in short matches: A
· Finals won in short matches: of (Winter 1997 and Completion 2021)
The streak is brutal and has been imposing for years, but the worst thing a ‘cement’ team can do is allow themselves to be intimidated, especially after realizing that if there was a team to be feared in the first leg semi-final it was the US, which, despite being two-time champions and a managerial seat, agreed to corner itself.
With 0-0 in the first leg and the tiebreaker criterion (in favor of the best-placed club in the table) in force, the Cruz Azul will not only need to lose the second leg to reach the grand final, but that’s pretty darn good. It is dangerous for a team with this background to sit back and wait for the stopwatch and the favor of luck, the same luck that has repeatedly held back against Azulgreema Club.
La Maquina’s last three lost finals (including the one at the Clausura 2024 in May) were against the United States, but now it has the chance to face fierce competition from its rivals in the previous event. That means they can reach the final in a single combination and eliminate the Aguilas from their perspective.
From how they faced the first leg, it seems that the USA, winners of two consecutive titles, have no great ambitions, but in reality, it is part of the plan to resist until it is time to deliver the final blow.
In the Clausura 2021, when Cruz Azul won its ninth, it did so by avoiding crossing with its archive. Also, in the last 27 years, La Maquina has won more finals in the Liguilla than against the United States.
Rayados is terrifying and has entered the finals of the Apertura 2024
Monterrey destroyed San Luis in the second half and became Liga MX’s first finalist
