Leader's Curse? Xolos Crushes Cruz Azul on the Border and Leaves Them on the Ropes Efrain Alvarez celebrates his goal against Cruz Azul (Mexsport) Wednesday night was not Cruz Azul’s night—far from it. The team that showed up on the field wasn’t the same Máquina we’ve seen all season. They struggled, made costly mistakes, and even lost Jorge Sánchez to a red card, ultimately falling 3-0 to Tijuana. Xolos, on the other hand, were sharp and strategic, with goals from Zúñiga, Efraín Álvarez, and Reynoso securing a commanding lead in the first leg of the Quarterfinals. Cruz Azul, now left badly bruised, faces an uphill battle. What happened to Cruz Azul? Was it a lack of rhythm? The break in activity? Overconfidence? Questions are swirling after this disappointing result. One thing is clear: they were disorganized and unfocused, and it cost them big. Juan Carlos Osorio outcoached his counterpart, walking away with a crucial win to take back to Mexico City. Xolos kept up relentless ...