MEXICO CITY (AP) — Rodolfo Rotondi played the villain in 2024 by conceding a penalty. Cruz Azul championship match. On Sunday, the Argentine midfielder found himself again.
Rotondi scored in stoppage time for Cruz Azul They rallied and defeated Pumas 2-1 and were crowned champions. mexican Clausura tournament.
The home side took the lead in the 30th minute with a shot from outside the box by Paraguayan midfielder Roberto Morales, but an own goal in the 53rd minute tied the game. Rotondi scored the winning goal in the final moments of a tense game.
“The championship feels like revenge, like liberation,” said Rotondi, who committed a penalty in the 2024 Clausura final against the United States. “I was in the middle of a storm, I bit my tongue, I said nothing, I did my job, and now it’s time to really enjoy this moment.”
La Machina won their first championship since the Clausura 2021 tournament and now have 10 titles, but only 10 more in total. club america 16 items, sea bass and torca 12 items.
“There were difficult times, but I never lost faith. It’s not easy to fight so hard for so long and come so close to winning, but it’s hard to do it perfectly,” Rotondi added. “We’ve been waiting for this for two years and it’s finally here.”
Cruz Azul, one of Mexico’s most popular teams, won the title under interim coach Joel Huiki, who took over in the penultimate round of the regular tournament after coach Nicolas Larcamon was fired.
Juiki is the first Mexican manager to win Liga MX since Ignacio Ambriz, who won the Apertura 2020 with Leon.
Pumas, coached by Efrain Juarez, were aiming for their eighth title and first since the 2011 Clausura tournament.
Pumas finished the game with nine men as Uriel Antuna was sent off in the 90th minute and Angel Rico was sent off in the 97th minute.
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