Cruz Azul needed a turnaround, and it finally found one. The “Cementeros” snapped a four-game winless streak and secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Necaxa in Matchday 6 of the 2026 Liga MX Apertura.
La Máquina entered the match under pressure after several results that had set off alarm bells. They hadn’t won a game since Matchday 2, and points were becoming increasingly important in the fight for the top spots and, ultimately, a spot in the Final Phase.
However, against the Rayos, Cruz Azul seemed to find the right formula. Even without needing to step on the gas for long stretches of the match, Joel Huiqui’s squad was able to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes and ended up taking home three crucial points.
Jeremy Márquez got the ball rolling with a spectacular goal
Necaxa started the match with some momentum, but little by little, Cruz Azul found openings. The first blow came in the 23rd minute. Jeremy Márquez popped up to connect on a spectacular volley that found the back of the net defended by Jiménez.
It was the kind of shot that leaves the goalkeeper with little chance. Jiménez could only watch as the ball flew past him, making it 1-0 for La Máquina. Cruz Azul went into halftime with the lead and, above all, with the sense that the game was under control.
Nico Ibáñez extended the lead
The second half practically began with another blow for Necaxa. Just a few seconds had passed since the restart when Nico Ibáñez popped up to score another true gem of a goal and extend Cruz Azul’s lead.
The 2-0 score ultimately dashed the Rayos’ hopes, as they were already having to fight an uphill battle against a Cruz Azul side that was beginning to find more and more open spaces. La Máquina didn’t take long to capitalize on it again.
Willer Ditta joined the party
In the 53rd minute, Willer Ditta decided to join the attack and ended up starring in one of the most spectacular plays of the night. The defender found himself one-on-one with Jiménez and, instead of going for a powerful shot, chose to finish with a classy chip over the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
The match seemed all but decided. Necaxa tried to mount a comeback, but their response came too late. It wasn’t until the 83rd minute that Miguel Emilio Rodríguez fired a great shot from outside the box to beat the Cementeros’ goalkeeper and make it 3-1.
The goal served to make the score look a little better, but there was no time left for a comeback.
Cruz Azul wins again after a bad streak
With the final whistle, Cruz Azul could breathe a sigh of relief. La Máquina secured a victory that means much more than just three points, as it also marks the end of a four-game winless streak in Mexico’s top soccer league.
After several matches in which the team had raised doubts, the rout of Necaxa could be the game they needed to regain confidence. Now, Cruz Azul will have to prove that this result wasn’t just a fluke and that it can truly serve as the starting point for regaining ground in the 2026 Apertura. The tournament is still in its early stages, but as the race for the Final Phase approaches, every point begins to count.
