Tag: cruz azul

Giakoumakis: It’s OK to lose games in MLS — and I hate it

The Greek striker fired a parting shot after his transfer from MLS to Liga MX

Giorgos Giakoumakis has fired a parting shot at MLS after his transfer to Liga MX, saying that he hates how losing some matches is acceptable in the American top flight.

Giakoumakis left Atlanta United after a season and a half, joining Cruz Azul this week in a transfer worth a reported $10 million.

The Greece international striker was hugely productive during his time with the Five Stripes, tallying 24 goals and seven assists in 43 matches across all competitions.

In 2023, his only full season in MLS, Giakoumakis was named an All-Star, earned a spot on the Best XI and was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year.

In his introductory press conference with Cruz Azul, Giakoumakis was clear in his belief that he had moved to a higher level of competition.

“I was really excited and I wanted to make it happen,” the 29-year-old said of his transfer to La Máquina. “Cruz Azul showed me how much they want me and that was a crucial factor for me to make my decision.

“Cruz Azul is a team for sure that I think is a level higher than MLS. It’s a team that is chasing records, chasing trophies and is trying to win always every single trophy.

“For me I love to work for these teams, to play for these teams because the expectations are high. Your motivation has to be always there. And it’s not OK to lose sometimes. That’s a bad thing in MLS, it’s OK to lose some games — and I hate it.”

In MLS, 18 of the league’s 29 teams currently make the playoffs, bolstering the Greek striker’s point that teams can afford a loss or two on their way through the season.

However, 10 of 18 teams make the postseason in Liga MX, which is 55 percent of the league’s teams — a figure not dissimilar to the 62 percent that reach the MLS playoffs.

Giakoumakis will aim to help Cruz Azul go one step further than it did in the recently completed Clausura campaign, which saw the Mexico City giant fall in the final against city rival Club América.

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America clinches second straight Liga MX title in controversial fashion

The final turned on a controversial second-half penalty

For the second straight time, Club América is champion of Mexico.

América clinched the Liga MX Clausura title on Sunday night, defeating Cruz Azul 1-0 in the second leg of the final at the Estadio Azteca.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, América became bicampeón with a 2-1 aggregate win over its Mexico City rival.

But the victory was not without controversy.

The match turned on a moment in the 70th minute. U.S. men’s national team winger Alejandro Zendejas won a battle with Carlos Rotondi on the right flank and managed to sneak a pass through to Israel Reyes.

Reyes raced to get the first touch with Rotondi desperately lunging in to win the ball. Reyes went down. Penalty.

After a VAR review, Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava decided to stick with the call on the field and award the penalty.

Henry Martín stepped up from the spot and scored what would be the game’s only goal.

Outside of the controversial penalty, the story of the final was América goalkeeper Ángel Malagón.

Malagón, who looks set to get his shot as Mexico starter at the Copa América this summer, made several key saves throughout the match.

Cruz Azul could have easily been a goal or two up at halftime were it not for Malagón, and La Maquina could have easily equalized late in the game as well.

After the game, América manager Andre Jardine brushed aside any talk that his side hadn’t fully earned its second straight title.

“That’s how things are at América,” Jardine said in his post-match news conference. “We’re always surrounded by controversy and there are a lot of people who try to disqualify our wins. When we win, there’s always some type of discussion, but I think two No. 1 finishes, the best attack, the best defense, two titles, a lot of clean sheets … there we are.”

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Club America vs. Cruz Azul: Where to watch Liga MX final, TV channel, live stream

The Liga MX title will be handed out on Sunday night in Mexico City

The Liga MX title is on the line when Club América and Cruz Azul meet in the second leg of the final on Sunday night.

América took a step toward a second straight title in the first leg on Thursday, managing to draw 1-1 at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.

Uriel Antuna opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty for Cruz Azul, but Julián Quiñones hit back with a close-range equalizer just seven minutes later.

Now, the top-seeded Águilas will look to make it back-to-back titles at home on Sunday. It will be the team’s final match at the Estadio Azteca before it closes for renovations ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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The two sides were the best in Liga MX over the Clausura regular season, with América finishing atop the table and Cruz Azul finishing second.

Cruz Azul has lost to América in two consecutive finals, the Clausura in 2014 and the Apertura in 2018, and will be desperate to avoid making it three straight this time around.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Club America vs. Cruz Azul (Liga MX final second leg)

  • When: Sunday, May 26
  • Where: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Univision, TUDN (Watch FREE on Fubo), ViX

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Cruz Azul vs. Club America: How to watch Liga MX final, TV channel, live stream

It’s an all-Mexico City final as the two giants meet in the first leg of the final

Two of Mexico City’s proudest clubs are facing off in the final, with Club América and Cruz Azul set to meet in a two-leg playoff to determine the Liga MX title.

The two sides were the best in Liga MX over the Clausura regular season, with América finishing atop the table and Cruz Azul finishing second.

The top-seeded Águilas will aim to get their title defense off on the right foot on Thursday night when they visit La Máquina in the first leg of the final.

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Cruz Azul has lost to América in two consecutive finals, the Clausura in 2014 and the Apertura in 2018, and will be desperate to avoid making it three straight this time around.

The final will conclude on Sunday night, when América hosts the second leg at the Estadio Azteca

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Cruz Azul vs. Club America (Liga MX final)

  • When: Thursday, May 23
  • Where: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (Mexico City)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Univision, TUDN (Watch FREE on Fubo), ViX

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Monterrey vs. Cruz Azul: How to watch Liga MX playoffs, TV channel, live stream

Two of Liga MX’s top teams meet in the first leg of the semifinal

Monterrey and Cruz Azul will face off Thursday night in the first leg of a Liga MX Clausura semifinal.

Cruz Azul, which finished second in the regular season, reached the last four by defeating Pumas 4-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinal.

Monterrey got past its local rivals Tigres in its last-eight matchup, advancing with a 3-2 aggregate win.

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Fourth-seeded Monterrey will be aiming for its first Liga MX title since the 2019 Apertura, while Cruz Azul lifted the trophy in 2021.

Monterrey will host the first leg at home, before the second leg takes place back in Mexico City on Sunday night.

The winner of this tie will move into the final, where they’ll face either Club América or Chivas.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Monterrey vs. Cruz Azul (Liga MX playoffs)

  • When: Thursday, May 16
  • Where: Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: TUDN (Watch FREE on Fubo), TUDN.com

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Club America vs. Cruz Azul: How to watch friendly, live stream

Liga MX may be on break, but two of Mexico City’s proudest clubs will square off in LA

Two of Mexico City’s proudest clubs are heading north, with Club América and Cruz Azul facing off in a friendly in greater Los Angeles.

Liga MX is on break due to the international window — with Mexico’s participation in the Concacaf Nations League finals a particular focus — and two of its contenders in the ongoing Clausura will meet Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.

América has been flying high, sitting in second place on 25 points, three behind Liga MX pacesetters Monterrey. André Jardine’s club has lost just once in 12 matches this season thanks in part to a league-leading defensive record. Despite some big names being absent with Mexico, stars like Álvaro Fidalgo and Alex Zendejas figure to be available for this match.

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Cruz Azul is not far behind América, trailing their city rivals by just three points in the Liga MX table. Veteran striker Ángel Sepúlveda and longtime Mexico center back Carlos Salcedo are expected to lead La Máquina during this visit to California.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Club América vs. Cruz Azul (friendly)

  • When: Saturday, March 23
  • Where: Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, Calif.)
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: FuboTV (WATCH LIVE), TUDN

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Messi scores incredible free-kick winner on Inter Miami debut

The Argentine legend delivered a Hollywood ending on his maiden Inter Miami appearance

After nearly two months of anticipation, Lionel Messi finally took the field for Inter Miami. And in stunning and dramatic fashion, he delivered.

The Argentine legend scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner on a free kick against Cruz Azul — a Hollywood ending to the opening match of his tenure with Inter Miami.

Messi came off the bench in the 54th minute of his club’s Leagues Cup match against the Liga MX side on Friday, with a sold-out crowd at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale giving him a huge ovation as he came on.

With his side up 1-0, Messi was immediately handed the captain’s armband.

Messi’s longtime Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets entered the game at the same time to also make his Inter Miami debut, with Josef Martínez rounding off a triple substitution.

The 36-year-old took up a position as a right attacking midfielder, looking to get into the half-space and connect attacking moves. Despite not having played for a month, Messi showed several examples of his quality and nearly combined for goals on multiple occasions.

After Uriel Antuna equalized for Cruz Azul in the 65th minute, the stage was set for Messi in stoppage time when he was fouled just outside the box.

It was a moment that was set up for the most dramatic of endings — and Messi delivered just that.

If there was any doubt that Friday night was an event, the presence of the likes of LeBron James. Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian made that abundantly clear.

Friday marked the culmination, as well as the beginning, of one of the most significant chapters in MLS history.

In early June, Messi announced that he was heading to Inter Miami after leaving PSG as a free agent. It took several weeks for all the details of a complicated contract to be settled, but the 36-year-old finally officially signed last weekend before he was presented to Inter Miami fans the following night.

Busquets would also sign with Inter following Messi’s arrival, with Jordi Alba, another former Barcelona mainstay, also set to join Inter Miami after his signing was made official on Thursday.

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Martino: Messi and Busquets will both debut vs Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup

The legendary duo are both set to make their first Inter Miami appearance on Friday

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino expects both Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets to play in Friday’s Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul, but isn’t sure if either will start.

Messi and Busquets officially signed with Inter Miami over the weekend, with the longtime teammates each taking part in their first training session with the MLS club on Tuesday.

Neither player has been involved in a competitive match for more than a month: Messi last played in an Argentina friendly against Australia on June 15, while the most recent game for Busquets was Barcelona’s May 28 La Liga match against Mallorca.

Speaking to ESPN Fútbol 12 in Argentina, Martino nevertheless said he expects both players to make their Inter Miami debut on Friday.

“From what I have seen up to now they are going fit to play and it is likely that on Friday they can be there,” Martino said. “Whether that will be as starters or coming in at the half, we will have to make that decision yet, but as I see it, Leo as well as Busi can play [on Friday].”

Martino added that much like Messi has said himself, he believes the 36-year-old’s desire to compete and win will keep him from taking his foot off the gas in MLS.

“What has not changed is his desire to continue competing and winning,” Martino said. “I think it shows a very salient trait Leo has as a football player. His perpetual desire to compete and win. I think that winning the World Cup took a great weight off his back.

“But someone I admire a lot told me that he is coming to MLS carrying an empty suitcase but without all the pressure he had in Barcelona in 2010-2011 or the pressure of the national team. Now, I think I am going to find a very competitive version of him because he has the need to win wearing this shirt now, because he has not won here yet.”

Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Martino, who previously won MLS Cup as head coach of Atlanta United, added that there are some unique factors in MLS that even legendary players like Messi and Busquets will need to get used to.

“This is a very physical league, and you have to be in great shape to compete,” Martino said. “There have been very good footballers who have come and at first it has always been difficult for them, because you have to adapt to a football that is not better, not worse, but different.

“Then it’s a very busy league, many long trips, different weather conditions, competition during the week, so you have to have a competitive squad.”

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Messi to make Inter Miami debut July 21 vs. Cruz Azul, says owner

A Leagues Cup clash against the Liga MX side looks like it’ll be the big occasion

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has said the club is targeting a July 21 game against Cruz Azul for Lionel Messi’s debut.

Messi announced his intention to join Inter Miami two weeks ago, with the deal set to be finalized imminently.

If all goes according to plan, the ex-Barcelona and PSG star will debut at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium, taking on the Mexican power in the newly expanded Leagues Cup that features every MLS and Liga MX team.

The get-in price for the Inter Miami-Cruz Azul clash is currently more than $1100 on TicketSmarter.

In an interview with a small group of media outlets, including the Miami Herald, Mas added that no MLS rules had been changed for the club to add the Argentina superstar.

“[There were] absolutely no changes in the roster rules,” Mas said. “There are no categories or anything that is being changed to incorporate Lionel Messi onto Inter Miami’s roster.”

The Miami Herald reported that Messi would sign a two-and-a-half-year deal worth $50 million to $60 million per year with an option for 2026. The deal will also include equity in the club after Messi’s retirement.

After a years-long pursuit of the World Cup winner, Mas said he expected the signing to be a seminal moment for MLS.

“I think there will always be a before and after Messi when we talk about the sport in the United States,” Mas said. “I have a very, very strong-held belief that we can create in North America and the United States if not the greatest league, one of the top two leagues in the world. I cannot over emphasize the magnitude of this announcement.”

Mas also said that he expected every game Messi plays in to be sold out, adding that the club is looking to add around 3,000 seats to DRV PNK Stadium, which would put capacity around 22,000.

“We are gearing up to do that work in the next four weeks,” Mas said of the stadium increase. “Every game will be sold out. The demand for tickets has been 10 times what we can handle on a season ticket basis.”

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¿Qué pasa en Cruz Azul? Todo apunta a un cochinero directivo

El cochinero a nivel directivo es evidente en Cruz Azul que destruyó un equipo campeón en tiempo récord

La crisis en Cruz Azul es evidente y la goleada de 7-0 del América lo confirmó dejando muy molesta a la afición que ya escarba entre los escombros para señalar a los responsables.

La afición tiene en la mira a dos jugadores, Julio Domínguez y Rafael Baca quienes son los señalados de no rendir al máximo, además del portero Sebastián Jurado quien perdería la titularidad por recibir tantos goles en contra.

Pero ya se está dejando ver tratos por debajo de la mesa a nivel directivo que sin duda afectaron a la creación del equipo pues se buscaron intereses personales y no colectivos en beneficio de la institución.

Jaime Ordiales, director de selecciones nacionales desde el pasado 1 de agosto, fue promovido al cargo en la Federación tras realizar acuerdos con el América para no interferir en las negociaciones por Cabecita Rodríguez.

Según un reporte del periodista Javier Alarcón, Cabecita Rodríguez buscaba regresar a a máquina cementera tras su paso por el futbol árabe, sin embargo el bloqueo a nivel representantes que tiene el América, lo ha obligado a buscar refuerzos fuera del mercado sudamericano y Jonathan Rodríguez era una de las opciones elegibles para los azulcremas.

Una llamada de Santiago Baños a Jaime Ordiales durante el mercado de pases puso fin a las intenciones de Víctor Velázquez de repatriar a Cabecita asegurando que no era una buena opción, pero por otro lado recibió la promesa del América, que sabemos controlan la selección mexicana, de ser el sucesor de Gerardo Torrado si ayudaba a completar el trato, algo que finalmente sucedió.

El cochinero a nivel directivo es evidente en Cruz Azul que destruyó un equipo campeón en tiempo récord recordando que fue esta directiva la que finalmente terminó con los años de sequía.

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