Cruz Azul secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over CF Monterrey in the First Leg of their 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series. The match took place on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where La Máquina sealed an epic comeback with a late goal.

The game saw Érik Lira open the scoring for Cruz Azul in the 25th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the area. However, Rayados quickly responded with Roberto de la Rosa, who equalized in the 35' after a Carlos Salcedo header. De la Rosa struck again in the 40', putting Monterrey in the lead before halftime.

The second half brought more drama. Gonzalo Piovi leveled the score for Cruz Azul from the penalty spot in the 84th minute, following Monterrey goalkeeper Santiago Mele's dismissal after receiving a second yellow card. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum, giving La Máquina a golden opportunity.

The comeback was completed in the 90th minute when Nicolás Ibáñez smashed a sensational volley from an Omar Campos cross, stunning the home team and their fans. This late goal secured a valuable victory for Cruz Azul heading into the second leg.

This win marks a significant milestone for Cruz Azul, as it is their first victory against CF Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup since the format change in 2008. Furthermore, it's La Máquina's first win against another Liga MX side in the competition since 2011, when they defeated Santos Laguna 3-1.

Cruz Azul will host the Second Leg of the series next Tuesday at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico. The winner on aggregate will advance to the Quarterfinals of the prestigious continental competition.