Cruz Azul beat Pachuca 2-1 at the Hidalgo to move on to 23 points
Cruz Azul won 2-1 away at CF Pachuca at the Estadio Hidalgo in Matchday 13 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026. The sides were level at the break, and Andres Montano's penalty in the 79th minute settled it. A VAR disallowed goal for Rondon ended the match.
Cruz Azul took the lead in the 13th minute. Alan Mozo set up Gabriel Fernandez, who made it 1-0. Pachuca responded quickly. In the 20th minute, Rodolfo Pizarro played in Francisco Venegas for the equaliser, and it was 1-1 at half-time.
The second half stayed even until the 79th minute, when Montano converted a penalty to make it 2-1. In the 87th, Salomon Rondon put the ball in the net for Pachuca, but VAR ruled it out. That goal would have levelled the match, and the scoreline did not change.
The numbers show a tight contest. Pachuca had more shots, 14 to 10, and both sides finished with five on target. Cruz Azul had more possession, 56% to 44%, and a higher xG, 1.86 to 1.16. They also won eight corners to none for the hosts. Pachuca committed 20 fouls and were shown five yellow cards. Cruz Azul committed 11 fouls and picked up three bookings. Daniel Quintero Huitron was the referee.
Goals
- 13' Gabriel Fernández Cruz Azul
- 20' Francisco Venegas Pachuca
- 79' Andrés Montaño (pen) Cruz Azul
Match stats
Our prediction
Our preview pointed to a 1-2 win for Cruz Azul in an open game, with Rondon as a likely scorer. The final score was exactly that, although Rondon's goal did not stand after the VAR check.
Cruz Azul move up to 23 points and sit third in the table, while Pachuca remain on 13 points in 16th place.