After winning their respective groups with unbeaten records, Sporting KC and Cruz Azul will collide in the quarterfinals of the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League in March. Ahead of the home-and-away match-up, SportingKC.com will be providing regular updates on La Máquina as part of the site's CCL Crash Course series. Want to know more about the tournament? Check out our 2013-14 CCL Guide.
Cruz Azul continued their hot start under new head coach Luis Fernando Tena with a 4-0 victory over previously unbeaten Veracruz on Saturday in week four of Liga MX. The third straight victory keeps Cruz Azul top of the Clausura table with 10 points (3-0-1) and level with Toluca.
La Máquina, debuting their recently unveiled red jerseys, also had the luxury of home support for the first time in 2014 after their home opener was closed to fans two weeks earlier due to disciplinary sanctions. Tickets to Saturday's match were sold for 50 pesos (approximately $3.72) to commemorate the club's 50 years in the Primera Division of Mexican soccer.
History: Cruz Azul broke into Mexico's first division with a 7-1 victory over Zamora on January 18, 1964 and have never been relegated since. Saturday's opponent, Veracruz, is Liga MX's most recently "promoted" team, though that's a much longer story.
Joao Rojas opened the scoring in the 29th minute for Cruz Azul. After receiving a pass from Alejandro Castro along the right touchline, Rojas cut inside and worked his way past two defenders inside the penalty area. His initial left-footed shot was blocked by Leiton Jimenez Romero but he buried the rebound with a right-footed shot that would ultimately prove to be the game-winner.
Veracruz goalkeeper Edgar Hernández did well to push away Mauro Formica's header in the 37th minute, but was beaten on the ensuing corner kick by Luis Perea. The Cruz Azul defender, who had a goal disallowed earlier in the first half, was the first to Rojas' delivery and snapped his header off the outstretched hand of Hernández from 10 yards out.
The home side added a third goal through Mariano Pavone on the final play of the first half. Veracruz midfielder Jesús Sánchez was cautioned for a late tackle on Formica, setting up a free kick from Rogelio Chávez. His service into the box was flicked forward by Castro and found Pavone well positioned for his second goal of the Clausura.
Marco Fabián (pictured above), who returned to the lineup after a one-game suspension, closed out the scoring in the 79th minute with his first goal for Cruz Azul since being acquired from CD Guadalajara. After a cheeky chip between two defenders to Chávez, Fabian was on the receiving end of the give-and-go and used the outside of his left foot to place a first-time shot inside the far post.
The offensive outburst -- Cruz Azul had scored three goals in their previous three games -- overshadowed another strong defensive display as La Máquina have now allowed only one goal through four games. Goalkeeper Jesús Corona needed to make only two saves on Saturday for his third shutout of the Clausura, tipping a 30-yard effort from Adrián Cortés over the crossbar in the 54th minute and stopping a tightly-angled strike from Luis Alberto Sánchez in the 89th minute.
Corona was one of two goalkeepers, and the only Cruz Azul player, named to the Mexico national team roster for an international friendly against Korea on Wednesday in San Antonio. Cruz Azul will face their toughest test of the Clausura campaign next Saturday when they travel to take on CD Guadalajara, one of three unbeaten sides in Liga MX along with frontrunners Cruz Azul and Toluca.
