Cruz Azul suffered an unexpected 1-2 defeat with Pachuca on the eve of the duel vs LAFC
Cruz Azul, without several starters due to next Tuesday's game against LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League, fell to Pachuca 1-2
Negative things piled up for Cruz Azul, or so it seemed; After losing 1-2 to Pachuca in Week 13 action, Cruz Azul suffered an unexpected error from goalkeeper Andres Gudino and, subsequently, with their inconsistent performance, couldn't find a way to recover. This setback, if Chivas defeats Pumas this Sunday, will see the Sacred Flock fall six points behind Cruz Azul, a tough blow in the fight for the overall lead in the Clausura 2026 tournament. The Cementeros felt the absence of key midfielders like Erik Lira and Agustin Palavicino, which ultimately affected their performance. But what hurt La Maquina the most was goalkeeper Andres Gudino's error in the 4th minute. On a goal kick, he took it carelessly and without looking, failing to notice Brazilian Kennedy nearby. Seeing the gift in the center of the box, he simply had to pick up the ball and put it away. in goal, a serious, very serious mistake that he hadn't made in all the time he's been a starter for the Sky Blues. This goal set the tone for the match, as Cruz Azul was forced to push forward more aggressively, but without Palavicino as Paradela's partner, they didn't have as much connection with Luka Romero, and even less with the African Christian Ebere, who started the match but took a while to get into a rhythm. For that reason, when Ebere managed to equalize in a play that should have been ruled offside, but neither VAR nor referee Victor Alfonso Caceres wanted to call, it was a missed opportunity to put the Sky Blues ahead before the end of the first half. Because 12 minutes into the second half, the Amazonian Kennedy once again unleashed a tremendous shot that left Gudino with no chance, putting Esteban Solari's team ahead. They came in as the likely underdogs and ended up taking home a great away victory. home.Now Cruz Azul is preparing to face LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals in a match that promises to be intense and will test the capabilities of both teams, and, obviously, where each league stands, further fueling the debate about whether MLS has surpassed Liga MX.

