Cruz Azul bounced back to get a 2-1 victory over Pumas to win their 10th Liga MX title and become the Clausura 2026 champions. Cruz Azul was the better team but they went down to a somewhat early goal but came back in a 2nd half that was disastrous for the home team. Cruz Azul won their 2nd title in the Estadio Olimpico Universitario after winning the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup against Vancouver Whitecaps in that same stadium.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out from the start with Adalberto
Carrasquilla while Cruz Azul came out with their typical liguilla 11. A mistake from Cruz Azul almost allowed a 1 vs 1 for Robert Morales but Willer Ditta was able to clear the ball. From outside the area, Carlos Rotondi got off a left footed shot that forced a great save from Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. Also from outsid the area, Agustin Palavecino got off a right footed shot that forced another great save from Navas. After a clash with Carrasquilla, Jose Paradela looked to have injurd himself but he remained in the game. A low cross into the area was volleyed wide by Carlos Rodriguez. From way outside the area, Rodrigo Lopez got off a great right footed shot that forced a good save from Cruz Azul’s goalkeeper, Kevin Mier. Off a counter, the ball would end up getting to Uriel Antuna but his shot was blocked into the path of Robert Morales, who got off a great right footed shot past Mier to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. After getting the ball in the area, Palavecino got off a right footed shot that would go just wide. Cruz Azul subbed out the injured Jose Paradela for Gabriel Fernandez. A cross into the area was headed from close range by Rotondi but Navas made a wonderful save. Off another counter, Juninho would find Morales in the area, who got off a low right footed shot that forced a good save from Mier. The halftime whistle blew and although Cruz Azul had been the better side, Pumas had the lead and were closer to the title win.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a change during the break. A cross into the area would fall to Rodriguez but he failed to get off a shot and instead send a cross that went wide, in a bad miss. After winning the ball just outside the area, Juninho would get off a shot past Mier to score but the goal was disallowed for a clear handball from the Pumas attacker. Off a quick counter, Jordan Carrillo got off a shot that was deflected wide. A cross into the area by Rotondi would be cleared by Alvaro Angulo but right to Ruben Duarte, who deflected the ball into the net to score an own goal that tied the match at 1-1. It was a bad defensive mistake from Pumas and the team looked to have been hurt by that mistake. After hurting himself in a slide, Carrasquilla looked to have injured himself as he was crying on the field. Pumas had to sub out the injured Adalberto Carrasquilla for Santiago Trigos. From way outside the area, Gonzalo Piovi got off a great left footed shot that would force Navas to make another great save. Because of injury, Ruben Duarte had to be subbed out for Pablo Bennevendo. After making a foul, Amaury Garcia looked to have injured himself. He would be subbed out and Jorge Rodarte came in for him. Carrillo got off a right footed shot from outside the area that was deflected wide. Off the ensuing corner kick, Bennevendo got off a header that went just wide. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez for Angel Rico. After a harsh foul by Uriel Antuna on Jeremy Marquez, the referee would go to VAR and give him the red card, leaving Pumas with 10 players. A pass into the area would bounce around and fall to Carlos Rotondi, who got off a left footed shot past Navas to score and give Cruz Azul the 2-1 lead in injury time. Things looked more than bleak for the home side and incredibly positive for Cruz Azul. After a late tackle, Angel Rico got red carded. Rico, who added nothing to Pumas after going in, is a great example that while Pumas improved over Juarez, their youth level products continue to be incredibly poor. It would be the last play as Cruz Azul would hold on to get their victory and their tenth League title in Mexico.
Cruz Azul were deserving champions after defeating Pumas by a 2-1 score. Although Pumas had finished at top of the standings, their Liguilla had not be great and they were the inferior team in the 180 minutes of the final. Cruz Azul had been clearly superior in the first leg, and although they weren’t that dominating in the 2nd leg,they were the slightly better team. Worse yet for Pumas’ fans, the win is the second title for Cruz Azul won in the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, after they played there during the Estadio Azteca remodeling, where they defeated Vancouver Whitecaps in the final. The better news for Cruz Azul was the shining match by Carlos Rotondi, who had been criticized in past liguillas for mistakes against America. Not only was he the scorer of the last minute goal but he was the best player for Cruz Azul. Cruz Azul spent years without a title (From 1997 until 2021) but have now won their second title and extended Pumas’ lack of Liga MX titles to 15 years. Coach Joel Huiqui also became champion after only taking the team in the final months, when Nicolas Larcamon was fired. Overall, it was an historic night for Cruz Azul, who will clearly fight for a place among the top teams in Mexico.
