Cruz Azul Defeats León to Secure Second Place in Liga MX

Cruz Azul secured a crucial 2-1 victory against León during the 15th round of the Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament. Played at the Estadio Banorte, the match carried high stakes as both teams fought to improve their standings in the final stretch of the regular season.

The reigning Mexican football champions entered the fixture needing a win to keep pace with the league leaders. With the three points secured, Cruz Azul advanced to 29 points in the tournament table, drawing level with América and Chivas at the top of the standings.

The home side opened the scoring through Andrés Montaño, who calmly converted a penalty kick following a video review. The goal marked the fifth consecutive match in which the midfielder has found the back of the net for the team known as 'La Máquina'.

Cruz Azul extended their advantage in the second half when José Paradela scored after his shot deflected off a defender, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Despite the two-goal deficit, León continued to push forward and created several scoring opportunities.

León managed to cut the deficit late in the match, injecting drama into the final minutes of regulation and the added time. However, the visiting team was unable to find the equalizer and dropped to seventh place in the overall standings with 22 points.

The result leaves Cruz Azul in second place based on goal differential, maintaining pressure on the tournament leaders with only a few matches remaining in the regular phase. Meanwhile, León remains in contention for a playoff spot despite the setback on the road.