Argentine coach Nicolás Larcamón’s Cruz Azul achieved an agonizing 3-4 win over Juárez FC on Friday and moved into second place in the Clausura 2026 Mexican soccer tournament.
In the continuation of the fourth day of the championship, Argentinians Agustín Palavecino, José Paradela and Rodolfo Rodondi, and Mexican Carlos Rodríguez scored for the Azules, while Colombian Óscar Estupiñán, twice, and Brazilian Guilherme Castillo scored for the home team.
Cruz Azul takes advantage of Juarez’s failures
Cruz Azul took advantage of Juarez’s defensive lapses.
In the very first minute they took the lead thanks to Agustín Palavecino, when he accepted a ball from Uruguay’s Gabriel Fernández and scored with a right-footed shot.
In the 7th minute, Juárez made a messy start and Paradela made it 2-0 with a shot into the corner, leaving him alone at the top of the scoring charts with three goals.
The light blue continued to push forward and in the 39th minute they widened the gap through Rotondi.
Juárez pulled one back in the 45+10 minute with a penalty converted by Estupiñán, but in the second half Cruz Azul dominated again and in the 51st minute scored the fourth goal from outside the box, over the goalkeeper.
Distressing ending
Rotondi missed a penalty, after which Juarez fought back and in the 81st minute scored with a left-footed shot by Castillo.
Cruz Azul was left with a man down on the field due to a dismissal of Fernandez in the 84th minute.
Juarez went for goals and in the 90+1 came close with a header by Estupiñán.
Cruz Azul ended up outplayed, but saved the victory.
They have three wins, one loss and nine points, the same as the leader Guadalajara, who has a better goal difference for and against.
Pumas crushes Santos
It moved into second place
QuéOnnda.com
In another match on Friday, Pumas UNAM thrashed Santos Laguna 4-0 with two goals from Jordan Carrillo, one from Panama’s Adalberto Carraquilla and the other from Alan Medina.
Pumas moved up to third place with eight points, the same as fourth-placed Toluca, who a couple of hours earlier played to a goalless draw with lowly Puebla and missed the chance to leap to the top of the table.
Today, the Guadalajara Chivas of Argentinean coach Gabriel Milito will enter the San Luis stadium in search of maintaining their perfect performance.
Argentine world champion Ángel Correa’s Tigres will visit León, Tijuana will visit Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales’ Monterrey and Mazatlán will visit Atlas.
The day will conclude on Sunday when Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón’s Pachuca will play at Querétaro’s stadium.
With information from EFE
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