Goals: Cruz Azul-Santos 31' - Gimenez 50'
Recap: Ninety minutes of inspired football saw Cruz Azul defeat Leon 2-0 on Saturday.
Despite conceding a lion's share of the possession in the first half (53 percent), it was Cruz Azul who opened the affair in the 31st minute. Poor marking from Leon inside the area gifted a free header to Fabio Santos. The 29-year-old left zero doubts with his finish. More of the same followed in the second half.
A clinical penalty from Christian Gimenez sealed the 2-0 victory.
Key Moment: Down a goal, a club's response immediately following the half is imperative to salvaging a point. Leon failed to pass the test on Saturday. A reckless challenge, coupled with an extended arm from Efrain Velarde, forced the official to point to the spot. Gimenez subsequently buried his penalty, giving Cruz Azul an insurmountable 2-0 lead just five minutes after the break.
Man of the Match: Even at 36, Gerardo Torrado continues to prove his quality in midfield. In addition to winning 100 percent of his tackles, Torrado recovered the eight times in transition.
Lesson Learned: A shaky start to the campaign aside—an inexplicable 3-0 loss to Morelia at home—Cruz Azul have confidently adapted to the philosophies of newly appointed manager Sergio Bueno.
Lack of success made Bueno's appointment to one of the biggest clubs in Mexico a controversial one. In 271 career games as manager, per Goal, the 53-year-old has a 42 percent win percentage (86 wins, 81 draws and 104 losses). The lack of a Liga MX title in his resume further raised eyebrows in Mexico City; however, with a respectable roster under his care this season, Bueno is finally proving his coaching chops and doing so under extenuating circumstances.
Given the parity that is Liga MX, Cruz Azul's title hopes are not favored, but they should be strongly considered moving forward.
Up Next: Both clubs return to league play on Aug. 12, with Leon hosting Tigres UANL and Cruz Azul visiting Chiapas.
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