By Justin Ruderman
Playing at Dignity Health Sports Park in their second straight Phase One match, Cruz Azul ended their Leagues Cup 2025 campaign on a high note with a comeback penalty-shootout victory over the Colorado Rapids on Thursday night.
The first half was eventful from the start. Colorado quickly capitalized on Cruz Azul’s attempt to play out from a goal kick, pressing high to set up Rafael Navarro for a curling finish from the edge of the box — just three minutes in, the Rapids had an early lead.
Despite being picked off in their own defensive third, La Máquina didn’t panic. They dominated possession throughout much of the match, controlling more than 65% of the ball. Colorado still threatened: from a throw-in at midfield, Sydney Wathuta rattled a shot off the underside of the crossbar.
Cruz Azul created several point-blank chances but were denied by a phenomenal double save from Rapids goalkeeper Nico Hansen in the 27th minute. Colorado extended their lead in the 41st minute from a well-worked free kick: Cole Bassett curled a teasing delivery to the back post, where captain Andreas Maxsø turned it home to make it 2–0.
Willer Ditta, who conceded the free kick, nearly redeemed himself immediately. He struck a trivela that took a massive deflection off Wayne Frederick and looped into the near-post top corner, halving the Celestes’ deficit heading into halftime — and Ditta was officially credited with the goal.
After the break, Hansen continued to shine with another incredible double save to deny Ignacio Rivero twice from inside the box within seconds. Rivero, though, had the last say in regulation: a substitute’s cross from Mateusz Bogusz met Rivero, who executed a perfectly struck trivela volley that nestled in the side-netting, forcing the match into extra drama and eventually penalties.
In the shootout, Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier produced the decisive stop in the second round, denying Oliver Larraz and securing Cruz Azul’s second consecutive penalty-shootout win at Dignity Health Sports Park.
REACTIONS
- Colorado Head Coach Chris Armas:
- “What a group of young men. A team that sticks together, you saw it tonight, a really good example of what a real team looks like. A team that doesn't really break, we bend and take some blows along the way, but we stepped on the pitch to win the game tonight."
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
- Cruz Azul:
- Ignacio Rivero: The 33-year-old Uruguayan is the latest to add his name to a list of jaw-dropping goalscorers in Phase One of Leagues Cup 2025.
- Colorado:
- Nico Hansen: The Rapids backup goalkeeper looked like anything but against Cruz Azul, racking up an impressive 10 saves with most of the world-class variety.
GAME NOTES
- For the first time, brothers Cole and Sam Bassett started a match together for the Rapids.
- Cruz Azul took an incredible 30 shots in the match, nearly triple that of Colorado.
- Cruz Azul exit the tournament without a regulation win in their last three Leagues Cup campaigns, since the implementation of the new format in 2023.
- Brazilian striker, Rafael Navarr, took less than 150 seconds to hit the back of the net with a stellar finish to open the scoring.
- Colorado Rapids lost their first Leagues Cup shootout ever; Cruz Azul extended their all-time Leagues Cup shootout record to 5-3.
- Both Cruz Azul and the Colorado Rapids finish 12th on four points in their respective league’s Phase One table at Leagues Cup 2025.
CARDS/INJURY REPORT
- Yellow Cards
- Colorado Rapids: Darren Yapi
- Cruz Azul: Willer Ditta, Jeremy Márquez
LOOKING AHEAD
- Cruz Azul return to LIGA MX playwith a visit to San Luis on Monday.
- Colorado is back in MLS action on Sunday with a trip to Minnesota.
