Cruz Azul rebounded from a difficult stretch of the Apertura 2026 tournament with a decisive 3-1 victory against Necaxa at Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes, halting a run of three consecutive losses. La Máquina displayed a much-improved tactical balance under manager Joel Huiqui, combining defensive solidity with clinical finishing to secure three crucial away points and climb to ninth place in the standings.
How Cruz Azul Secures Victory in Aguascalientes
The visitors opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Jeremy Márquez struck a powerful volley from outside the penalty area following a corner kick, leaving Necaxa goalkeeper Luis Jiménez with no chance. The early breakthrough set the tone for a commanding performance by the Mexico City side, who dictated the tempo through the midfield.
Cruz Azul quickly put the match out of reach at the start of the second half. Just one minute after the restart, Nicolás Ibáñez doubled the lead with a long-range strike into the top right corner of the net. The goal stemmed from an impressive individual run by Carlos Rodríguez, who eluded three defenders before laying off the decisive pass to the Argentine forward.
Willer Ditta Seals the Three Points
The cementeros effectively ended any hopes of a Necaxa comeback in the 53rd minute. Colombian defender Willer Ditta advanced vertically from the backline into the final third, played a quick one-two combination with José Paradela, and chipped a delicate finish past the advancing goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
Necaxa struggled to break down the disciplined Cruz Azul defensive block for the majority of the fixture. The hosts managed to salvage a late goal in the 83rd minute through Emilio Rodríguez, but the effort served as mere consolation as La Máquina comfortably managed the remaining minutes to claim the victory.
Standings Implications and Next Steps
With the win, Cruz Azul reaches 9 points in the Apertura 2026 campaign, moving up to the ninth position in the league table.
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