Cruz Azul Edges León 3-2 in Liguilla Quarterfinal Match

Mexico City, Mexico – Cruz Azul opened their Liguilla campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over León in the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup on May 9, 2025. Despite a late surge from León, Cruz Azul’s strong performance gives them a definitive advantage going into the second leg.

The match featured standout performances from key players, including James Rodriguez of León and Willer Ditta from Cruz Azul. In a tense moment early in the match, Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier narrowly avoided an embarrassing mishap when a clearance attempt went awry, but he managed to collect the ball before danger struck.

Cruz Azul struck first in the 15th minute when Angel Sepulveda set up Ignacio Rivero for a left-footed shot, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead after León goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez failed to control a defensive miscue. Shortly after, Andres Montaño doubled the lead for Cruz Azul with a left-footed shot that sailed past Jimenez.

León’s defense faltered on both goals, leading to a frustrating start for the home side. However, León slowly crept back into the match, with Sebastián Santos finding the net in the 35th minute, narrowing Cruz Azul’s advantage to 2-1 after a deflected attempt.

In a show of resilience, León forward Stiven Mendoza came close to equalizing, but Mier made a crucial save to maintain Cruz Azul’s lead. Just before halftime, Montaño added a third goal for Cruz Azul, concluding the first half with a score of 3-1.

The second half saw León come out strong, and they quickly cut Cruz Azul’s lead to 3-2 following Ivan Moreno’s goal within seconds of the restart. Despite this setback, León struggled to convert their chances, especially after being reduced to ten men when Adonis Frias received a red card for a last-man tackle.

Cruz Azul made several substitutions in response to injuries and a more aggressive León team, but struggled to extend their lead. The match grew increasingly physical, with both sides committing numerous fouls as they fought for control.

In the end, Cruz Azul managed to hold onto their 3-2 lead, setting them up as favorites in the return leg on Sunday. Despite winning, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with Cruz Azul’s performance, noting the missed opportunities even with a man advantage.

Looking ahead, Cruz Azul will need to improve if they want to secure their place in the semifinals, while León faces an uphill battle, needing a two-goal victory to advance.