Monterrey Defeats Cruz Azul In Thrilling Liga MX Clash

Monterrey Defeats Cruz Azul In Thrilling Liga MX Clash...

Monterrey secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in a high-stakes Liga MX match on Wednesday night, drawing significant attention from US soccer fans. The game, played at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, saw late heroics from Argentine forward Rogelio Funes Mori, who scored the winning goal in the 87th minute.

The match is trending in the US due to Liga MX's growing popularity among Hispanic communities and the increasing number of American viewers tuning in to Mexican soccer. Both teams feature players with US national team ties, including Cruz Azul's USMNT defender Carlos Salcedo.

Monterrey's victory tightens the race for the Liga MX Clausura playoffs, with Cruz Azul now sitting just outside the top eight. The heated rivalry between these clubs, combined with the playoff implications, fueled intense social media reactions from fans on both sides of the border.

ESPN reported a 22% increase in US viewership for Liga MX matches this season compared to 2025. The network's Spanish-language broadcast of Wednesday's match drew particularly strong numbers in Texas, California, and Arizona.

Cruz Azul manager Ricardo Ferretti criticized refereeing decisions post-match, claiming a disputed penalty call changed the game's momentum. Monterrey coach Fernando Ortiz praised his team's resilience after coming back from an early deficit.

The result leaves Monterrey third in the standings while Cruz Azul drops to ninth, increasing pressure ahead of next week's crucial matches. Liga MX returns to US screens this weekend with several matches airing on TUDN and Fox Deportes.