Club América, Cruz Azul finish scoreless in Liga MX Final first leg

Club América and Cruz Azul put in a tepid performance as the First Leg of the 2018 Liga MX Apertura Final finished scoreless at the Estadio Azteca.

La Máquina were the more adventurous side in the first few minutes. First, Agustin Marchesin had to be called into action early when he beat Milton Caraglio to a pass inside the area.

Moments later, Marchesin, who has been superb for Las Águilas throughout this Liguilla, made a superb save to deny Julio Cesar Dominguez a goalbound header.

The game failed to open up after that, and both sides looked happy to go into the break scoreless.

In the 47th minute, a cross from the right side from Roger Martinez found Mateus Uribe inside the box. The Colombian midfielder then unleashed a one-time shot into the gloves of Jose de Jesus Corona.

Having introduced Oribe Peralta in the second half for the injured Uribe, it was Peralta’s turn to miss, as his header went well wide of Marchesin’s post.

With the game heading towards a scoreless draw, Cruz Azul eventually came closest to scoring the winner when a Martin Cauteruccio pass was gathered by Edgar Mendez on a breakaway. Mendez proceeded to blast the ball into the woodwork, ending any possibility of a late winner.

Both teams will meet again on Sunday in the Second Leg to decide who will lift the 2018 Liga MX Apertura trophy.