March 17 – An equaliser one minute into the second half by Cruz Azul’s José Paradela was enough to secure the Champions Cup holders a 1-1 draw and a 4-3 win on aggregate to send them into the last eight at the expense of CF Monterrey.
It was a night of heartbreak for Rayados who threw everything they had at Cruz Azul in the first half and huffed and puffed in the second, but in the end didn’t have enough quality in the final third to make the difference.
Cruz Azul went into the second leg of this round of 16 tie with a one goal cushion after beating Monterrey away from home 3-2 with two goals in the last 10 minutes.
It has been that kind of season for Monterrey who have struggled to put a run of form together.
A goal down and three away goals to overcome, it was always going to be a big ask, but at half time and a goal up it looked like things might be turning their way at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla.
Rayados started fast and had a corner in the second minute. In the 8th they were ahead.
Roberto de la Rosa, the architect of much of Monterrey’s best movement, found Jorge Rodríguez from a corner who hammered his right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
Level on aggregate and with 82 minutes to go, Monterrey had everything to play for, needing just one goal to secure passage in the quarter finals.
Cruz Azul were forced into action and had chances missed by Carlos Rodrigues, Nicolas Ibanez and Jose Pardela. At the other end Antony Martial almost put Rayados two up but had his shot from the left blocked on 25 minutes.
As the first half closed out Martial had a header saved while Jesus Corona twice came close to doubling Monterrey’s lead.
Rayados went into the break with everything to play for, but a minute into the second half it proved to be a false dawn.
Cruz Azul started with zip and intent. An Omar Campos cross found Pardela in the centre of the box who hit a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
It was a goal that took the steam out of Monterrey’s push for a second goal.
Rodrigues pushed and prodded for Rayados but couldn’t coax enough life into his teammates to change the game’s momentum.
They had a brief resurgence in the final 10 minutes with chances for Uros Djurdjevic and Corona but by then Monterrey’s fate was sealed.
Cruz Azul now meet LAFC in the quarter finals.
Cruz Azul 1 CF Monterrey 1 (Cruz Azul win 4-3 on aggregate)