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 moved into a two-way tie for first place in Liga Bancomer MX with a 1-0 win over Chiapas Football Club Saturday night at Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna in Chiapas, Mexico. Mauro Formica scored the game’s lone goal as the visitors improved to 2-0-1 in the Clausura.
Cruz Azul were without three regular starters, including Mexican national team forward Marco Fabian, who was suspended for the match after picking up two yellow cards last week against Santos Laguna. La Maquina were also without Christian Gimenez and Gerardo Flores who missed the match with injuries.
Despite controlling the run of play, with more than 60% of the possession, Chiapas were unable to break through against the visitors. Chiapas’ first opportunity came in the fifth minute when a give-and-go between Carlos Ochoa and Luis Robles freed Ochoa for a shot inside the penalty box. Ochoa struck well with his left foot but Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona parried the attempt away and secured the rebound.
Corona finished the match with four saves. The Mexican national team goalkeeper is tied atop the LigaMX goalkeeping charts with two shutouts and is tied for second with 13 saves and 0.33 goals against average.
Cruz Azul grabbed a lead on Chiapas in the 27th minute when defender Rogelio Chavez Martinez curled his corner kick to the penalty spot. Mariano Pavone, who scored the game-winner last week against Santos Laguna, headed the ball toward the far post and Formica re-directed the attempt into the net. The goal was La Maquina’s third of the season, with all three coming off headers.
The home side had a golden opportunity to level the match before halftime. Chiapas midfielder David Mendieta out-jumped his defender off a Williams Paredes corner kick, but his header soared over Corona’s head and hit off the crossbar before being cleared from danger.
None of the three Major League Soccer players that Cruz Azul acquired in the offseason appeared in the match, but former San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Rafael Baca was on the team sheet as a substitute for the first time.
Chiapas’ best opportunity to salvage a home point came in the 78th minute, but Lucas Viatri’s header from the left side of the box sailed directly into Corona’s arms.
Cruz Azul will return home next week for a date with undefeated Veracruz (1-0-2). That match will kick off from Estadio Azul at 5 p.m. CT.
