A splendid shot by Aguilera opened the match scoreboard
The match was decided in a thrilling penalty shootout 3-4
Cruz Azul was proclaimed this Sunday champion of the Liga MX Super Cup by defeating Atlas on penalties (2-2 in regulation time, 3-4 in the shootout) in an exciting match at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles (USA).
Emanuel Aguilera overtook Atlas with a beautiful free kickbut Cruz Azul reacted with goals from Santiago Giménez and Ángel Romero.
Julian Quinonesin the 91st minute, got uAn agonizing draw for the Atlasbut the Colombian striker was precisely the one who missed the final penalty that gave Cruz Azul the title.
The cement team won the Super Cup in the first game on the bench his new coach, the Uruguayan Diego Aguirre.
The Liga MX Champion of Champions is usually decided between the winner of the Opening and Closing.
But as this year the Atlas did double, Liga MX opted for a special Super Cup format with Cruz Azul for being Champion of Champions for the 2020-2021 academic year.
The Super Cup was played with a great atmosphere in Los Angeles, the stands full of blue and red and black t-shirtsand problems in access to the stadium with very complicated traffic.
Atlas hits, Cruz Aazul responds
The Atlas arrived with high morale after his two-time championship from 2021-2022, but the Cruz Azul started the match solidly and the forces were balanced at the start.
Cruz Azul brought danger to Vargas’ goal with a meadow ball and the rojinegros tried to take advantage of the counterattacks with Quiñones, but in the first 30 minutes the match was quite difficult.
in 32, Romero had a good chance with a foul at the top of the area and the rejection fell to Giménez, who also failed to define a few meters from the goal line.
Shortly after Antuna had to withdraw due to injury at Cruz Azul and Baca entered the pitch.
The Atlas had barely created in attack but took advantage of its first opportunity.
Aguilera took responsibility for a foul very close to the area in the 41st minute and showed off with a splendid shot that opened the scoring.
Cruz Azul did not collapse, which in the discount matched the match with a header from Giménez in a corner taking advantage of an unfortunate exit from Vargas.
Cruz Azul was superior to Atlas in the first half and Romero almost gave his team the lead before the break but his powerful shot went high.
Quinones, protagonist
After the break, Atlas came close to scoring on the first play with a header from Quiñones.
Even clearer was the occasion for Rodríguez, who he failed to push a great pass from Mayorga when he had everything in his face to score.
In a much more open duel, Reyes had the second for Atlas but, inexplicably, he was unable to define when he was alone and was intercepted excellently by Mayorga.
After the substitution of the injured Barbosa for Flores, Cruz Azul, in a stretch in which both teams were forgiving too much, He scored his second goal in minute 63 with a header on the iron de Romero in a serious defensive oversight by Atlas.
The cement workers were very close to sentencing with a huge gallop by Giménez, who after running more than 30 meters caressed the third for his team.
With little inspiration in the attack and with more will than ideas, the Atlas kept trying and the award appeared at the last breath.
In a corner in 91, the goalkeeper Vargaswho had climbed desperately, he headed in a fantastic way and the rebound fell to Quiñones, who signed a draw “in extremis” to force penalties.
From eleven meters, Escobar and Flores exchanged faults (both sent the ball to the wood) and on the tenth penalty it was Quiñones’ turn, who from hero to victim by sending his shot to the clouds and thus delivering the title to Cruz Azul.
– Data sheet:
2. Atlas: Camilo Vargas; José Abella, Anderson Santamaría, Hugo Nervo, Emanuel Aguilera (d. 78 Christopher Trejo), Luis Reyes; Édgar Zaldívar (m. 72, Ángel Márquez), Aldo Rocha, Diego Barbosa (m. 61, Edison Flores); Jonathan Herrera, Julian Quinones.
Technical director: Diego Cocca.
2. Blue Cross: Sebastian Jurado; Juan Escobar, Julio Dominguez, Luis Abram, Alejandro Mayorga; Erik Lira, Ángel Romero, José Rivero (Carlos Rodríguez, m. 45); Carlos Antuna (Rafael Baca, m. 36), Christian Tabó, Santiago Giménez.
Technical director: Diego Aguirre.
Goals: 1-0, m. 41: Eagle; 1-1, m. 45+2: Gimenez; 1-2m 63, Rosemary; 2-2, m. 90+1, Quinones.
Referee: Jorge Antonio Pérez Duran. He admonished Hugo Nervo (m. 23) and Anderson Santamaría (m. 28) from Atlas, and Santiago Giménez (m. 44), Luis Abram (m. 55) and Juan Escobar (m.79) from Cruz Azul.
Incidents: Match for the Liga MX Super Cup between Atlas and Cruz Azul that was decided on penalties (3-4) and was played at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles (USA).
