The ‘Machine’ saw its aspirations blocked by the azulcrema goal and a controversial penalty buried all celestial aspirations to win the title
Blue Cross closed the Clausura 2024 with a defeat against America In the Clausura 2024 final, however, he fell facing the Sun, as he dominated the second leg for long periods but lacked the forcefulness to tilt the result in his favor, in addition to a controversial penalty that buried all his aspirations.
The light blue goalkeeper intervened in the few finishes that América generated during the duel, but he was able to do little against the penalty (78′) that Henry Martín took.
As a left winger, he showed the high revolutions that cost him a warning and the arguments for the whistler to score the controversial penalty with which Cruz Azul consummated the defeat (78′), while in attack he wasted the greatest interval on the América field, without generating precise play to put the azulcrema goal in danger.
The left central defender bothered the advances of Henry Martín and Diego Valdés in the central lane, in addition to helping Rodolfo Rotondi return with the marking of Alejandro Zendejas. In the offensive phase he provided calm to his teammates in the creation zone, as well as vision and precision in his strokes.
The center back showed his best version during his time with Cruz Azul, assumed as a leader in defense and usually in charge of starting the team’s offensive play, allowing the block to move forward with the ball in their possession. Furthermore, he was firm in marking Henry Martín and Diego Valdés, who disappeared for long periods of the duel.
Unlike the first episode of the final, the central defender read Julián Quiñones better and stopped his intentions during the duel, in addition to being a leading player in the team’s exits and being confident against the high block that Cruz Azul is used to.
He constantly alternated between the line of defenders and midfielders, with discreet defensive contribution and constant sacrifice to generate superiority in the last third of the field.
The captain of Cruz Azul played a good game based on collective play, but he wasted several chances to finish the plays with the goals that the team missed so much during the duel.
The midfielder took on containment duties and alternated with Salcedo as a defender for brief periods, to allow him to organize the team’s exits with the ball short in the central lane. In the middle of the field he showed inaccuracies and lost balls that put his cause in danger because he did not deal well with the azulcrema pressure.
The midfielder suffered from pressure and closed lines from América, so he was unable to contribute in the offensive phase, however, he provided solidity to Cruz Azul’s second line to cut off the rival’s circuits.
As a second striker, he showed speed and overpowering, but the technique to receive the ball and decision making beyond a race towards the end line is a pending matter for the player.
The forward’s entry from the beginning was a success on the part of the bench, thanks to the contribution in the air and to play with his back to the frame, a quality that his partner in the last line does not possess.
Substitutes
Alexis Gutiérrez -> Salcedo (S/C)
(84′) An offensive replacement to look for a tie in the final stretch, with little participation and results.
Camilo Cándido -> Faravelli (S/C)
(88′) The winger refreshed Cruz Azul’s left flank, with just a few minutes to cause a change.
Mateo Levy -> Rotondi (S/C)
(88′) The young forward entered to overpopulate the area with players and try to use long serves.
