Cruz Azul Stumbles in Apertura Quarter-Finals First Leg Against Tijuana
club tijuana vs cruz azul |
Cruz Azul's hopes for a strong start to the Apertura 2024 Quarter-Finals were dashed as they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Tijuana at the Estadio Caliente. This marked only the second time under Argentine coach Martín Anselmi that Cruz Azul conceded three unanswered goals, the first being a similar loss to Santos earlier this year.
The Xolos were relentless, scoring three times against Colombian goalkeeper Kevin Mier without any response from the Celeste attack. This impressive display echoed the 3-0 loss Cruz Azul endured on March 9, when Santos overpowered them at the Territorio Santos Modelo. Since then, Cruz Azul had remained defensively resilient, until this setback on the border nearly eight months later.
An Unexpected Turn of Events
Cruz Azul entered the postseason as regular-season champions and record-breakers, having achieved the highest points tally in the history of 17-match short tournaments in Mexican football. In contrast, Tijuana, led by Juan Carlos Osorio, barely secured their spot through the Play-In, defying expectations by taking down the tournament favorites.
Tijuana's performance places them among an elite group of teams that have managed to breach Anselmi’s defensive formula. The others include Santos and Atlético de San Luis, the latter achieving the feat in Matchday 8 of the current campaign. However, unlike the Xolos and Santos, San Luis conceded a consolation goal to Cruz Azul’s Ignacio Rivero during their encounter.
A Nightmare First Half
The first half against Tijuana turned into a disaster for Cruz Azul. The home team struck twice before the 20-minute mark, and things went from bad to worse when Jorge Sánchez received a direct red card. Sánchez was sent off after stomping twice on forward Raúl Zúñiga in an off-the-ball incident. Referee Fernando Hernández acted decisively, leaving Cruz Azul with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Looking Ahead
This unexpected defeat puts Cruz Azul in a precarious position as they prepare for the second leg. With their backs against the wall, the Celestes must regroup and find a way to overcome Tijuana’s three-goal advantage if they hope to advance to the semi-finals.
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