A brace from Andrés Montaño and a goal by Ignacio Rivero secured Cruz Azul’s 3-2 win over Leon in first leg
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The second leg will take place at Estadio Olímpico Universitario
James Rodríguez missed match due to suspensionLeón must now win by two goals or more in the second legGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Cruz Azul, under the guidance of head coach Vicente Sánchez, was the only team to secure an away victory in the first leg of the Clausura 2025 quarterfinals, edging León 3-2 at the Nou Camp.
Following the dramatic win, Sánchez emphasized the intensity of the match and the importance of closing out the series strongly in front of the home crowd.
“Liguilla matches are intense and are often decided by the smallest of details. This was just the first half of a 180-minute series,” Sánchez said. “Now we head home, where we’ll look to seal the result with the backing of our fans. We’re confident they’ll fill the stadium and make their presence felt. We’ll approach the return leg the same way we always play at home.”
Sánchez also acknowledged the difficulty of playing at León’s stadium and expressed satisfaction with the advantage his side now holds heading into the second leg.
“We came to a tough venue, against a quality opponent, and managed to come away with a lead. That gives us some peace of mind heading back home.”
The Uruguayan manager was also asked about the condition of midfielder Andrés Montaño, who was forced off after a hard collision during the match – raising concern within Cruz Azul’s camp.
“He took a heavy hit, and we’ll need the medical team to evaluate him properly. We’ll have to wait for the swelling to go down before we can determine the severity,” Sánchez explained.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Under the leadership of Sánchez, Cruz Azul is the most in-form team. With their 3-2 victory over León in the first leg of the Clausura 2025 quarterfinals, extended their unbeaten streak to 17 matches. Their last loss came on February 15 against Tigres in Liga MX.
Fueled by a brace from Andrés Montaño and a goal from Ignacio Rivero, Cruz Azul takes a solid advantage into Sunday’s second leg. Given their third-place finish in the regular-season standings, León now faces a steep challenge – needing to win by at least two goals to advance, as Cruz Azul holds the higher-seed tiebreaker.
Getty Images SportWHAT EDUARDO BERIZZO SAID
On the other side, León manager Eduardo Berizzo shared his thoughts after the narrow loss, acknowledging the effort of his players despite the result. He pointed to a few key moments that, in his view, shifted the momentum of the match in Cruz Azul’s favor.
“I’m proud of the way the team performed," he said. "We pressed Cruz Azul well and forced mistakes in their half. Unfortunately, three shots on goal resulted in three goals. There were turning points, like when Steven had a one-on-one chance to equalize at 2-2, but we missed – and moments later, they scored their third. In the second half, we got back to 2-3, but then the red card really hurt us. It limited our ability to keep pressing.”
Berizzo also confirmed that Colombian playmaker James Rodríguez will return to the lineup for Sunday’s second leg after serving a one-match suspension. His return is expected to provide a significant boost to León’s attacking options.
“Having James back will definitely enhance our creativity going forward. We need players who can support his vision and movement,” Berizzo said. “Despite the loss, I’m encouraged by the way we played. We regained much of our identity – pressing high, playing with pride – and that’s a very good sign.”
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL AND LEÓN?
The second leg will take place Sunday at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. Cruz Azul can advance to the semifinals with either a win, a draw, or even a one-goal loss, thanks to their higher seeding in the standings.
