Cruz Azul took a crucial lead in the Clausura 2026 quarter-finals by defeating Atlas 3-2 after a controversial and thrilling match at Estadio Jalisco.
La Máquina, who finished the regular season in third place, showed their attacking class in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last moment.
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The star of the night was Nigerian forward Christian Ebere, who bagged a vital brace for Cruz Azul’s hopes.
After a tight first half that ended with the visitors holding a slim lead thanks to a goal from Rodolfo Rotondi, Ebere extended the advantage in the 55th minute. It looked like the Mexico City side would cruise comfortably, but Atlas pushed forward.
The “Zorros” leveled the score thanks to a goal by Arturo González and a penalty from Aldo Rocha. However, the tie did not last long, as VAR intervened to award another penalty, this time in favor of Cruz Azul.
With this result, Atlas is forced to win by a two-goal margin in the second leg.
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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
