The 2013 Mexican Clausura championship series began with one of the best games in league play this season.
Needing only one goal to take an early Finals advantage, Cruz Azul will now head to the Estadio Azteca for the final leg of the Liga MX championship.
When And Where To Watch
The second leg of the final is set to begin Sunday, May 26th at 9:00pm, EDT. A live broadcast of the event will be available through Univision TV, with coverage starting at 8:50pm, EDT.
Road To The Finals
Cruz Azul entered the first leg of the final - held at the Estadio Azul - feeling great about the overall level of their game. The nine-time Clausura runner-up was absolutely dominant in their semifinal defeat of defending champion Santos, shutting down the Santos offense while lighting up the scoreboard with timely goals of their own.
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While Azul made quick work of Santos, America was able to escape past 2012 Clausura runner-up Monterrey in a semifinal series that did not disappoint. Playing to a 2-2 draw in the opening leg of the semi, Monterrey and America knew they'd need to be sharp in the final leg and while America was strong from the start, Monterrey was never able to catch up, eventually falling by a 4-3 goal aggregate.
Recapping Cruz Azul's 1-0 Opening Leg Victory
Despite outshooting their opponents 25-6 including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal, Club America was unable to put a number on the board as strong defense from Cruz and fantastic net play proved to be the perfect combination for success against 10-time champion America.
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Jose Corona was brilliant in net for Cruz, stopping each of the 6 shots that came his way. The 32-year-old net minder made a fantastic save in the 52nd minute on a quick header attempt. Diving to his right to turn the attempt aside, Corona kept the talented America offense off the scoreboard.
The lone goal of the game came off a beautiful played header from Christian Gimenez. Following 18 minutes of dodging multiple Club America opportunities, the 32-year-old star was able to break the scoreless tie in the 19th minute, beating America keeper Moises Rodriguez.
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Although America seemed to control the offensive flow of the contest, Cruz Azul did enough to escape with a crucial 1-0 victory, setting themselves up with an opportunity to win their first Mexican Clausura final in 16 seasons.
Clausura Final Wrap-Up
As the final two Liga MX teams prepare for the second and final leg of the championship, be sure to catch all the action on Sunday, May 24th at 9:00pm. Coverage will be provided by the Univision television network.
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