It was not easy but Cruz Azul managed to hold on throughout the 90 minutes to extend the game to penalty kicks after a 0-0 game and they beat Orlando City SC 5-4 in sudden death at Inter&CO Stadium, to advance to the Leagues Cup Round of 16.
The first half had a lot of action but it was Orlando City SC who created the most danger. Ivan Angulo combined with Ramiro Enrique and Facundo Torres on two attacking plays that had La Maquina Celeste worried about their back line.
Within the first 15 minutes of the game, it seemed that the home team would score easily but they could not do so failing on the last touch thanks to the three center backs for the Mexican team, who gradually started to feel comfortable on the pitch.
However, it was until the second half that they created a real chance, when Giorgos Giakoumakis took a shot from the left side but it ended up hitting the post. That brief moment of light for Cruz Azul was forgotten quickly by OCSC, when in the 72th minute an error from La Maquina Celeste almost cost them the game.
As they were trying to start a play from their own box, they lost the ball and Torres took it by shaking off a defender and his shot was saved by goalkeeper Kevin Mier. Pedro Gallese had some late heroics as well, after an Angel Sepulveda shot in stoppage time but he prevented his team from falling and that ultimately sent the game to penalty kicks.
Both teams missed their first shot, as Robin Jansson´s was saved by Mier and Ignacio Rivero´s went off the mark. Then we saw perfection from the following players until the sudden death round; once again the Cruz Azul goalkeeper stepped up big with another save against Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Uriel Antuna sealed the game with his penalty goal to punch a ticket to the next round.
Now, La Maquina Celeste will face Mazatlan FC in the Round of 16 as two Liga MX teams will battle for a spot in the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup.
