America and Cruz Azul finish goalless in physical Apertura final first leg

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:26 am

Joe Corona, left, of America struggles for the ball with Milton Caraglio of Cruz Azul.
Joe Corona, left, of America struggles for the ball with Milton Caraglio of Cruz Azul.
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America and Cruz Azul played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final at Estadio Azteca on Thursday night.

The two teams felt eachother out in slow-paced first half that finished in a goalless draw, with Cruz Azul coming closest to scoring early on when Julio Dominguez forced a fine save from Club America keeper Agustin Marchesin.

America, which last won the Liga MX title in the 2014 Apertura, nearly had its first at the start of the second half, but Mateus Uribe's shot from 10 yards away went right at Cruz Azul keeper Jose Corona.

Uribe was then subbed off minutes later after a hard aerial collision at midfield, with club stalwart Oribe Peralta coming on for his 500th Liga MX appearance.

America's Paul Aguilar tried his luck from distance as the match approached the 75th minute, but his low, swerving line drive was saved by a diving Corona to keep the score level.

Cruz Azul nearly nearly scored a stoppage-time winner, but Edgar Mendez fired his shot off the crossbar after breaking in all alone behind the America defense.

The two teams meet again on Sunday evening, once again at Estadio Azteca, for the decisive second leg.