Cruz Azul Stuns América In Thrilling Liga MX Clásico Joven
Cruz Azul Stuns América In Thrilling Liga MX Clásico Joven...
Cruz Azul pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory over archrivals Club América in Sunday's Liga MX Clásico Joven, reigniting one of Mexico's fiercest soccer rivalries. The match, played before a sold-out crowd at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, is trending in the U.S. due to its significance for Mexican-American fans and the growing stateside interest in Liga MX.
Uriel Antuna scored the 89th-minute winner for Cruz Azul after América's Julián Quiñones had canceled out Rodolfo Rotondi's first-half opener. The result shakes up the Liga MX standings, with Cruz Azul climbing to fourth place while América remains second behind leaders Monterrey.
The rivalry matchup always draws massive attention from U.S. soccer fans, particularly in cities with large Mexican-American populations like Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago. Univision reported record stateside viewership for Sunday's broadcast, with social media engagement spiking during the tense final minutes.
This edition of the Clásico Joven (Young Classic) carried extra weight as both teams chase playoff positioning with four matches remaining in the Clausura season. América had been unbeaten in their previous five meetings against Cruz Azul before Sunday's upset.
Liga MX continues to outperform MLS in U.S. Spanish-language viewership, with rivalry matches like América-Cruz Azul driving much of that interest. The league's popularity reflects the cultural connections many Mexican-Americans maintain with their ancestral homeland's soccer traditions.
Post-match, América coach André Jardine acknowledged his team's defensive lapses while Cruz Azul's Martín Anselmi praised his squad's resilience. Both teams now prepare for midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup matches before returning to Liga MX action next weekend.
The result keeps the heated rivalry alive, with the next meeting scheduled for September during the Apertura tournament. For now, Cruz Azul fans celebrate bragging rights in one of North America's most passionate soccer derbies.
