Led by a solid defensive sector, the experience of goalkeeper Jesús Corona and the impetus and quality of Rodolfo Rotondi, Cruz Azul defeated the Águilas del América 2-1, earning them a ticket to the final of this Cup for Mexico where he is the current champion.
The celestial victory, at the Nemesio Diez stadium, came with goals from Rotondi and Michael Estrada, while the Águilas discounted with Salvador Reyes.
Cruz Azul reached eight units and is the leader of group A, where América del was left with four.
The final will be this Friday at the Jalisco stadium against Chivas Rayadas del Guadalajara.
THE BEST
América sent the 11th to the field of play, which is very close to what it will present on date one of the Clausura 2023, with Óscar Jimenez in goal, guarded by Sebastian Cáceres, Nestor Araujo, Miguel Layún and Salvador Reyes, in midfield with Richard Sánchez, Alejandro Zendejas, Álvaro Fidalgo and Brian Rodriguez, ahead with Roger Martínez and Jonathan Rodríguez.
Cruz Azul also made use of the best of its squad, already with World Cup players Uriel Antuna and Michael Estrada, who remains in the squad before the arrival of a new axis of attack.
Cata Domínguez, Ramiro Funes Mori, Erick Lira, Alexis Gutiérrez, Nacho Rivero, Rodrigo Huescas, Juan Escobar and Rodolfo Rotondi also lined up.
CELESTIAL ADVANTAGE
In between was the pass to the final of the tournament, so the two teams did not wait to try to offend the rival. Both had arrivals, but it was Cruz Azul who gave the first important warning at 4′, a counterattack that ended with the ball in the net, but the play was annulled for being offside.
However, two minutes later (6′) the Machine now made its arrival at the opponent’s goal effective. Nacho Rivero sent a pass to Rodolfo Rotondi who received the ball in three quarters of the field, turned around and faced the American defense, took off Néstor Araujo, and shot before Caceres covered them, a low and crossed shot that he beat to Óscar Jiménez for 1-0.
After the score, América tried to react, advanced lines and caused the withdrawal of the Machine, which attacked with counterattacks.
At 23′, the Águilas approached with a scramble through the center between Cabecita Rodríguez and Roger Martínez, the latter taking a shot that went just wide of Corona’s goal.
Then, at 26′ Cruz Azul was able to extend their advantage, but Óscar Jiménez saved his goal twice. First in Antuna’s escape that left Rotondi alone, this shot with power but deep down the Águilas goalkeeper contained.
Seconds later, Jiménez once again avoided Cruz Azul’s second after a great header from Uriel Antuna inside the penalty area.
At 34′ a serious mistake by Funes Mori and Escobar left the ball to Jonathan Rodríguez, who could not control the ball and lost it on the final line.
América did not stop insisting and at 43′ they had the closest goal, after a corner kick Brian Rodríguez was left alone in the area, he shot low and the ball anguishedly slipped through the sky-blue rear, it seemed to go to the nets, but in the line was taken by Ramiro Funes Mori.
Already in the final part of the first part, Cruz Azul finally attacked and found a foul in the rival area, in a penalty executed by Michael Estrada with a soft shot, but placed by the upper left corner for the 2-0.
YELLOW REACTION
For the second half there was the appearance of Luis Malagón as America’s goalkeeper, in addition to the entry of Israel Reyes for Nestor Araujo.
The dynamics of the game was maintained, with América insisting on the fairy tale and Cruz Azul attacking on counterattacks.
The insistence of those from Coapa was finally rewarded at 56′ in a play by Zendejas from the left, who entered the area and seemed to lose the ball, but the rebound was left to Salvador Reyes who defined with a pumped shot before the departure of Jesús Corona for 2-1.
Las Águilas launched for the tie, entering Henry Martín and Diego Valdés, although it was Cruz Azul who was close to the third goal.
At 60′ Uriel Antuna got into the area, cut to the center and left the ball in Rotondi, who faced Malagón, finished off with a cross shot that went outside the Águilas goal.
At 73′ the chance came from América, a shot at the near post by Brian Rodríguez that passed very close to Corona’s goal. A minute later the shot was from Diego Valdés, but just as wide.
Jesús Corona became the star of his team at 81′ when he slapped a powerful shot from Brian Rodríguez that deflected the ball, hit the crossbar and went off the field.
