Club América Reach Apertura Final after a Action-Packed Semifinal with Cruz Azul | OneFootball

Cruz Azul and Club América met for a semifinal double-header at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes with one team set to book a place in the final.

The winner would be facing Monterrey who came from behind to defeat Atlético de San Luis in the other clash.

Last night's meeting had all the makings of a must-watch fixture. The two sides faced off in the Clausura 2024 final, where América narrowly emerged victorious to lift a record-breaking 15th Liga MX title. However, Cruz Azul exacted revenge during the current Apertura regular season with a dominant 4-0 win. This time, the stakes were even higher, as one of these Mexico City rivals would secure their spot in the final alongside Los Rayados, determined to have the last laugh.

Carlos Rotondi #29 of Cruz Azul reacts after losing the... / Eyepix Group/GettyImages

The sides played out a tense goalless stalemate in the first leg, meaning that all the attention would be on the second leg, with only one side able to reach the final. As Cruz Azul finished the regular season as the league leaders, the event of a tie would mean that they would qualify for the showpiece event, whilst a win was the only eventuality that would favour Las Águilas.

All eyes turned to the home of Cruz Azul for the replay with tensions high once more. Unlike the initial meeting, the first swing of the game went in favour of the visitors when Alejandro Zendejas struck from outside the box to beat Kevin Mier in the Maquiná goal.

La Maquiná spent the rest of the half knocking on the door but failed to create any testing chances for Luis Malagón in the América goal.

Fast forward to the second half, it started with yet another shock. Cruz Azul were comfortable in possession within their own half when an under-hit pass from Gonzalo Piovi was intercepted by Richard Sánchez who hit a looping effort from the halfway line, beating Mier. To the disbelief of everybody in the stadium, not only had América doubled their lead against the outright favourites to lift the Apertura, but they had dispossessed Azul on the halfway line to score one of the goals of the season.

Now two goals to the good, Las Águilas were well on course for a third consecutive Liga MX final with forty minutes left on the clock.

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As expected, Cruz Azul continued to press and almost had a goal back not long after conceding but Jonathan Dos Santos was there to the rescue, clearing a Luis Romo effort off the line.

In the 67' minute, Azul finally got their first breakthrough of the tie when Piovi redeemed himself with a lofted ball from deep which beat the entire América backline to find Ignacio Rivero whose first touch with his chest allowed him to lob the on-rushing Malagón.

The game was nicely poised with one goal between the teams. However, the game would only stay like this for a matter of minutes before the next twist. América restored their lead.

In a rare second-half attack, Las Águilas were awarded a corner with Ramon Juárez leaping higher than everybody to head his effort beyond Mier.

Sinking two a 3-1 deficit, time was against La Maquiná if they had any desire to reach the final, but they were going to give it a go.

Ten minutes left on the clock, Cruz Azul clawed their way back into the game. Pushing América deep into their own half, former Águila Jorge Sánchez delivered a pinpoint cross that found Gabriel Fernández. Rising above the defence, Fernández directed a header back toward the near post, beating Malagón for the second time in the match.

Once more, Cruz Azul found themselves one goal away from the final, and they got it late into the game.

For the third time in the game, América’s inability to defend crosses proved costly. Jorge Sánchez initiated the play once more, passing to Alexis Montaño, who delivered a dangerous ball into the box. Though América managed to clear the initial threat, the ball fell to Amaury Morales. With precision and power, Morales unleashed a stunning volley that left Malagón with no chance.

For the first time in the tie, Cruz Azul found themselves heading to the final. In an action-packed second leg, Morales sprinted toward the fans, celebrating a monumental moment that could define their campaign.

But... One last twist was in-store.

One minute left on the clock before added time and América were seconds away from elimination. André Jardine sent everybody forward and Cruz Azul folded under the pressure. The ball was hung up high to Rodrigo Aguirre who flicked it into the path of Fidalgo who was brought down Rodolfo Rotondi in the box.

Despite the complaints from the Azul players, the referee had no other choice but to point to the spot.

It would not be a semifinal Clásico in Mexico without drama, but nobody expected this. América were ten minutes away from qualifying, seconds away from missing out on the final to being handed the perfect opportunity to end the tie once and for all.

Aguirre stepped up for the most important kick of the game. The Uruguayan played a role in earning the penalty and had the chance to send both the second placed team (Toluca) from the regular season and now the top seed home.

The 30-year-old kept his calm and slotted the ball in the opposite direction to the diving Mier, sending Club América to the final.

Sixteen minutes were added onto the game and one final piece of drama ensued. Not in the form of a goal, but a dismissal. Aguirre had the lasting impact on the match but was sent off minutes later for a wreckless challenge on Piovi to receive a second yellow of the game.

Cruz Azul could not make the man advantage count and the full-time whistle called an end to breathtaking second half.

Club América, despite finishing the regular season in eighth, earned the spot in the Liguilla final. The result means that they will meet Monterrey in a double-header with one time to be crowned the 2024 Apertura winners.