Cruz Azul lifted the Apertura 2018 Copa MX trophy after a 0-2 away win against Monterrey in the Gran Final. This is La Máquina’s fourth Copa title and their first since the Clausura 2013 season.
The game started off with Monterrey looking the stronger, as the hosts looked to take advantage of the atmosphere provided by the 49,764 people in the Estadio BBVA Bancomer – the majority of which were supporting the Rayados.
The Apertura 2018 Copa MX wraps up on Halloween as Monterrey and Cruz Azul contest the Gran Final.
The Copa MX final consists of a single game held at the home of the highest remaining seed. Should the game be tied at the end of 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will determine the champion; no extra time will be played.
The Rayados will host this Apertura 2018 final as they look for their third cup title, having previously lifted the trophy in the 1991-92 and Apertura 2017 seasons. La Máquina, meanwhile, is looking for their fourth title after winning in 1968-69 (against Monterrey), 1996-97, and the Clausura 2013.
Both semifinal games went to penalty shootouts, with Monterrey and Cruz Azul eventually emerging victorious. The two will now face off for the Apertura 2018 Copa MX crown in the Gran Final on October 31st.
The Rayados beat Pachuca 4-3 on penalties after a wild 3-3 draw; after falling behind early, Monterrey took a 2-1 lead, and then a 3-2 lead despite playing a man down. Pachuca tied it in the final minute of stoppage time to send the semifinal to a shootout, but the Tuzos couldn’t keep the momentum going as misses by Raúl López and Víctor Guzmán allowed Monterrey to claim the victory.
Cruz Azul, meanwhile, came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against León, who had taken the lead in the 50th minute despite playing a man down since the 18th minute. La Máquina tied it up in the 71st and then triumphed 5-4 in the shootout, with Walter González’s miss for León proving decisive.
The Apertura 2018 edition of the Copa MX is nearing its conclusion, with the semifinal round slated for this Tuesday and Wednesday.
All four remaining teams are from Liga MX, with the final Ascenso MX representative, FC Juárez, being knocked out in the quarterfinal round. Now, Pachuca, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, and León will compete for a spot in the Gran Final.
The semifinals are single-elimination games held at the home of the higher seed. Should the teams be tied at the end of 90 minutes, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout; no extra time will be played.
All times Eastern, home team listed first.
The Apertura 2018 Copa MX is back to its original schedule for the semifinals after a weather-delayed round of sixteen game had a knock-on effect on the quarterfinal schedule.
The competition is all caught up now, however, as Monterrey beat Querétaro 1-0 this week in their rescheduled match, and that result allowed the dates, times, and matchups of the semifinals to be confirmed.
The postponement of the Round of 16 game between Monterrey and Zacatepec has had a cascading effect on the scheduling of the Apertura 2018 Copa MX knockout rounds.
This week will see Monterrey and Zacatepec play their postponed match as well as three of the quarterfinal games; the fourth quarterfinal, between the winner of Monterrey/Zacatepec and Querétaro, will be held during the upcoming FIFA break.
This week’s games are as follows; all times Eastern, home team listed first.
The Apertura 2018 Copa MX Round of Sixteen was held this week, with seven teams so far – six Liga MX and one Ascenso MX – having booked their spot in the quarterfinals.
The game between Monterrey and Zacatepec was postponed due to weather and field conditions; they will play next Tuesday, while the rest of the remaining teams will contest their quarterfinal games. The winner of Monterrey/Zacatepec will face Querétaro in the quarterfinals during the next FIFA break, after which the competition should return to its original schedule.
The knockout rounds of the Apertura 2018 Copa Corona MX begin this week, with 12 teams from Liga MX and four from Ascenso MX facing off in the Round of Sixteen.
The Round of Sixteen consists of single-elimination games held at the home of the higher seed. Should the teams be tied at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, advancement will be decided by a penalty shootout; no extra time will be played.
All times Eastern, home team listed first.
With Atlas and Zacatepec completing their delayed Jornada 6 game this Thursday, the group stage of the Apertura 2018 Copa Corona MX has officially wrapped up, with 16 teams advancing to the knockout rounds.
Twelve Liga MX teams and four from Ascenso MX will now face off as they look for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Round of Sixteen will be played between September 25th and 27th, with the exact dates and times to be announced shortly.
The matchups are as follows:
The Apertura 2018 edition of the Copa MX continued this week with the sixth (and final) round of group-stage games.
Scores
Mineros 1-2 Querétaro
Pumas UNAM 3-1 TM Fútbol Club
Venados 0-1 Puebla
Pachuca 2-0 Celaya
Alebrijes de Oaxaca 1-1 Monarcas Morelia
Atlético San Luis 0-3 Cafetaleros
Toluca 1-0 Tijuana
Dorados de Sinaloa 1-0 Veracruz
Zacatepec vs Atlas – postponed to 9/13
