Match Recap: Cruz Azul 4, Lobos BUAP 1

Cruz Azul visited Lobos Buap this weekend looking to secure s spot near the top of the standings and secure their place in the liguilla. Lobos was looking to win and hoping for a combination of results that would help them sneak into the top 8.

Cruz Azul turned on the pressure right away with a high defensive line and a relentless pressing that made it hard for Lobos to get out of their own half. The tactics employed by the Cementeros right away showed promise when Yoshimar Yotun got in a powerful shot in the 7th minute. The Lobos keeper was forced into an uncomfortable save to keep the score 0-0.

In the 11th minute Cruz Azul attacked again and won a corner, this time Pablo Aguilar put it away. The goal was initially called off but after a VAR review it was approved.

The pressure continued and soon Cruz Azul had another good opportunity, with a play up the left wing. Yotun passed to Orbelin Pineda who got into the area and gave anice flick pass to Caraglio who finished with a header that was impossible for the keeper to stop.

With the game firmly in their control Cruz Azul took their foot off the pedal a bit and let Lobos have more of the ball. Coach Pedro Caixinha was upset at his team and tried to retake control by shouting instructions, but his team did not respond. Then in the 40th minute, Lobos struck and Leonardo Ramos got a goal to pull his team closer.

The half ended with Cruz Azul holding on to a 2-1 lead that could have been more if they had been able to keep up the pressure.

The Azules came out the gates firing on all cylinders, and even before a minute had gone by, they scored again. Aldrete moved up the left wing and put in a cross that Roberto Alvardo got a hold of with a powerful shot that Duarte had no chance of stopping.

Up 3-1 and in full control of the game, Cruz Azul once again eased off but kept more control of the ball and did not make any more mistakes. In the 56th minute, Edgar Mendez was booked for a hard tackle.

The game took on a slower pace but Cruz Azul was not done yet. In the 73rd minute, a good link up play between Orbelin Pineda and Alvarado produced another great goal. Alvardo put it away into the bottom left corner of the and got his second of the night.

Lobos fought the entire game and did not give up but the quality of Cruz Auzl’s players was too much for the scrappy team from Puebla. They are now eliminated from the liguilla and will look to end the season well and regroup for next season.

With the win, Cruz Azul gets to 29 points and moves up to fourth place in the table. When Cruz Azul is on their game, they are a very formidable opponent and they will look to end the regular season on a high note next week when they receive a visit from Monarcas Morelia.