Cruz Azul's relentless form faced its toughest test yet and passed with flying colours. La Máquina edged Club America 4-3 in a breathless Clásico Joven during Matchday 8 of the Apertura 2026, a victory that lifts them to eighth place in the Liga MX table with 12 points.
A devastating start
Joel Huiqui's 5-4-1 setup worked to perfection in the first half. Erik Lira opened the scoring in the 19th minute from a measured pass by José Paradela. Paradela himself doubled the lead in the 35th, finishing off a move started by Carlos Rodríguez. The first-half crowning moment came on the stroke of halftime, as Jesús Orozco headed home a precise cross from the tireless Paradela for 3-0. A missed penalty by Nicolás Ibáñez just before the break did little to tarnish a near-perfect performance.
The Eagle's fightback and the clincher
America emerged transformed after halftime and Brian Rodríguez pulled one back in the 52nd minute, reigniting hope. Cruz Azul, however, managed the period of pressure well. Huiqui turned to his bench and the introduction of Gabriel Fernández proved decisive. The striker, who came on for Ibáñez, sealed the win in the 72nd minute following an assist from Lira, restoring a three-goal cushion.
A heart-stopping finish
The match seemed over, but in stoppage time America launched a final assault. Oscar Perea made it 4-2 in the 90th minute and, from the next attack, Miguel Borja scored to make it 4-3, creating unbearable tension in the dying moments. The referee showed five yellow cards to Cruz Azul players, a reflection of their total defensive commitment to protect the result.
Despite having only 43% possession, La Máquina was lethal, with 10 of their 16 shots on target. This win solidifies an impressive run of four consecutive victories after an uneven start to the season. The team has scored 12 goals this campaign and now looks up the standings, just four points behind the leaders.
The next challenge is an away trip to face Monterrey on September 20. Rayados currently sit 12th, so Cruz Azul will aim to extend their positive run in a tough venue. Fans can check the full squad status ahead of the match, where Amaury Morales remains sidelined.
