Cruz Azul edge Club América 4-3 in dramatic "Clásico Joven"

Cruz Azul edge Club América in dramatic "Clásico Joven"

In one of Mexican football's fiercest rivalries, Cruz Azul defeated Club América 4-3 in a Round 8 Apertura 2026 Liga MX clash marked by goals at both ends.

Sources differ slightly on the exact venue and date: OneFootball reported the match was scheduled for Saturday night at Estadio Azteca, while YSscores and VAVEL describe a match played on Sunday, September 13, at Estadio Banorte — and since these two sources provide a detailed account of the action itself, they likely reflect what actually happened.

Pre-match context

Club América, coached by Guillermo Almada, arrived in strong form with five wins and one draw, boasting the league's stingiest defense with only two goals conceded in Apertura 2026. Cruz Azul's form was more uneven — four wins and three losses — with a shakier back line that had let in 11 goals, according to OneFootball. Almada was missing Santiago Mingo and Santiago Bueno through injury, so he fielded his strongest available XI, with Luis Ángel Malagón returning in goal and Miguel Borja as the secondary attacking reference, supported by Brian Rodríguez and Isaías Violante. Per YSscores, Cruz Azul lined up in a 5-3-2 formation while América used a 4-2-3-1.

Match summary

Cruz Azul dominated the first half, going into the break with a 3-0 lead. América began their comeback attempt in the second half when Brian Rodríguez curled in a free kick to cut the deficit. Cruz Azul restored their three-goal cushion through Gabriel Fernández, making it 4-1. América continued pushing forward, and Óscar Perea scored twice in quick succession — including one from a rebound after goalkeeper Kevin Mier parried a shot from Alejandro Zendejas — to bring the score to 4-3. Despite the late América surge, Cruz Azul held on to secure the win in an eventful, closely fought contest.