Cruz Azul finishes as sub-leader of the Clausura after beating Toluca 1-0

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TOLUCA (AP) — Goalkeeper Thiago Volpi crashed two penalty kicks into the woodwork, clearing the way for Cruz Azul to beat Toluca 1-0 on Saturday and finish as runner-up in the regular phase of the Mexican Clausura tournament.

Willer Ditta made his debut as the sky blue’s scorer in this championship with an accurate header from Carlos Rotondi’s center at 18 minutes.

Volpi had the option to equalize with his first attempt since the 11-pass streak in the 68th, but his shot hit the post and went off the field.

History repeated itself at 74, with a second penalty after referee Fernando Guerrero reviewed the VAR; Volpi crashed it into the same post again.

“La Maquina” returns to the league after being eliminated in the last tournament after placing in 16th position. The light blues close their calendar with 33 points, only surpassed by the leader America, with 35.

Toluca lost the opportunity to aspire to the overall leadership, because they had to win by a certain goal difference and were in third position with 32 points after suffering their first setback at the Nemesio Díez stadium, where they had won victories. until before this duel.

Fortune was not on the scarlet side after an advanced position invalidated a goal by Maximiliano Araujo in the first minutes of the match; The Uruguayan then hit the post late in the first half.

Volpi had converted all 15 penalties he had taken before this match. His failed collections came after Ditta first committed a foul on Araujo and shortly after Camilo Cándido touched the ball with his hand after a shot, an action in which the video referee intervened so that the penalty was awarded.

TIGERS, DIRECT TO LIGUILLA

Andre-Pierre Gignac scored his fifth goal of the championship to lead the Tigres’ 4-1 victory over Tijuana, with which they ensured they were one of the first six direct qualifiers to the Liguilla.

Gignac opened the account at 13 minutes; Sebastián Córdova (61 minutes), Juan Brunetta (81, from a penalty) and Nicolás Ibáñez (90+3) extended the lead. Raúl Zúñiga (83) scored for the Xolos.

The cats have 31 units in fourth position; They are exposed to losing one or two steps if Monterrey (29) wins on Sunday visiting Necaxa or if Chivas (28) wins with a wide margin later on against Atlas.

Tijuana closes the campaign in 15th position with 14 units.

PACHUCA SEEN EQUAL

Pachuca did not know how to maintain the advantage when they were tied 1-1 at home by Mazatlán, a result that leaves them with uncertainty in search of qualifying directly for the league.

Oussama Idrissi (67) opened the account for the Tuzos; Facundo Almada (83) matched for Mazatlán.

Los Tuzos are provisionally in sixth position with 29 units; It can be surpassed by both Chivas and Necaxa if they win out of their commitments.

Mazatlán was eliminated by placing itself in 14th position with 15 units.

Earlier, Ciudad Juárez tied 1-1 with León, a result that prevented the “Green Panzas” from aspiring to the playoffs by remaining in 11th position.

León finished with 24 points, the same amount that Querétaro has in tenth place, but with a worse goal difference. Juárez was in 12th position with 16 units.