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Liga MX: Copa MX Recap – August 1, 2018 – Holders Necaxa win

By Thomas Buckley

AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO - APRIL 11: Igor Lichnovsky of Necaxa celebrates after the Championship match between Necaxa and Toluca, as part of the Copa MX Clausura 2018 at Victoria Stadium on April 11, 2018 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO - APRIL 11: Igor Lichnovsky of Necaxa celebrates after the Championship match between Necaxa and Toluca, as part of the Copa MX Clausura 2018 at Victoria Stadium on April 11, 2018 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – JULY 28: Martin Cauteruccio #07 of Cruz Azul celebrates with his teammates after scoring the first goal of his team during the 2nd round match between Chivas and Cruz Azul as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Akron Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – JULY 28: Martin Cauteruccio #07 of Cruz Azul celebrates with his teammates after scoring the first goal of his team during the 2nd round match between Chivas and Cruz Azul as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Akron Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images) /

Zacatepec 2, Cruz Azul 3

The revamped Cementeros won their third straight game to continue their dream start to the season. Martín Cauteruccio scored twice and Elías Hernández produced the winner with a magical free kick in minute 83.

“Caute-gol” opened the scoring just three minutes in as Andrés Rentería deftly rewarded Cauteruccio’s diagonal run into the box between two defenders and the Argentine striker calmly slotted home with his left foot.

Second-division Zacatepec made the “Blue Machine” work for its 3 points, ending Cruz Azul’s two-game shutout streak just three minutes later when Ronaldo Cisneros converted a penalty kick for the Mineros. The teams traded chances the remainder of the half but went to the locker room knotted at 1-1.

Cauteruccio was at it again as the clock hit the hour mark, executing a nifty give-and go inside the box with Roberto Alvarado, slotting home with his right foot past the sprawling Mineros goalie.

Zacatepec again responded quickly, equalizing off a 28-meter bomb from Jacob Akrong only four minutes later. The Ghanaian defender collected a loose ball near the midfield circle, dribbled forward a few paces then blasted a low shot inside the goalie’s right post that had Cruz Azul defenders raising their arms in frustration.

New acquisition Hernández came to the rescue with only seven minutes remaining. Taking a Cruz Azul free kick just outside the right-corner of the penalty box, the Morelia native buzzed a shot across the face of the wall set up by Zacatepec defenders, wrong-footing goalie Gerson Marín who could only watch the ball nestle into the side netting.

The Cementeros and the Mineros each have 3 points in Group 6 though Zacatepec has played twice already. Cruz Azul next plays on Aug. 8 vs. Atlas, a 2-1 loser to Zacatepec last week.

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