At GOAL, the year’s most striking moments from La Máquina take center stage for readers in North America and beyond.
Cruz Azul closed the prior season by clinching a ninth star, ending a 21-year wait for a league title. The 2022 campaign followed with a roller coaster of highs and lows, shaping a year that mattered to fans across Canada, the United States, and Mexico alike.
The club added another trophy in the summer, welcomed a new coach, and endured a memorable, if infamous, victory that still sparks debate. This piece highlights the best and worst moments for the Celeste in 2022.
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Elimination of the 2022 Concachampions against Pumas
Under the guidance of Juan Reynoso, Cruz Azul was edged out in the Concachampions semifinals by Pumas UNAM, finishing with an aggregate score of 2-1. The team pressed on, chasing another international title while navigating a challenging path through the season.
Courtesy: Getty
Elimination of the Clausura 2022 against Tigres
The Celeste reached the Clausura 2022 quarterfinals, where they met Tigres. An early exit came with an aggregate score of 1-0 in favor of the Felines, ending hopes of a continued title run in the domestic league.
Departure of Juan Reynoso
The Peruvian coach left La Noria amid controversy, departing after guiding Cruz Azul to the ninth star. The change in leadership marked a turning point that would shape the club’s future decisions.
Courtesy: Getty
Arrival of Diego Aguirre
Cruz Azul quickly filled the coaching vacancy with the arrival of Diego Aguirre, a seasoned Uruguayan manager with a wealth of experience across leagues around the world, most recently with Internacional in Porto Alegre.
MX Super Cup Champion
La Máquina claimed the Super Cup by defeating Atlas on penalties, a victory that added another professional trophy to the club’s cabinet and reinforced its status in Mexican football.
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Sale of Santiago Giménez to Feyenoord
The deal sending Santiago Giménez to Feyenoord marked the first Cruz Azul export to Europe in more than a decade, signaling a shift in the club’s pipeline and talent strategy.
Credit: Getty
Worst win in history against America
The season delivered a soul-crushing 7-0 defeat to their archrivals, América. The result left the team and its supporters stunned, with consequences rippling through the locker room and beyond.
Departure of Diego Aguirre
Following the record loss, Cruz Azul’s board dismissed Diego Aguirre as head coach. The Uruguayan had secured a title but left the team mid-season, marking a disruptive moment for the club’s rotation of leadership.
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Arrival of Raúl Potro Gutiérrez
The interim appointment of Raúl Potro Gutiérrez brought a familiar face back to prominence in the Mexican game. Known for guiding the national U-17 squad to success, he faced his first full challenge in Mexico’s top flight with Cruz Azul.
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Series of five wins in a row in the Apertura 2022
After a difficult stretch, Cruz Azul recovered with five consecutive victories, lifting the team back into contention and establishing momentum for a rematch in the playoffs. The run demonstrated resilience and a spark that fans in North America could rally behind.
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Following a dramatic comeback against León, La Máquina found itself back on the cusp of a big party in Mexican football. The quarterfinals would pit them against Rayados de Monterrey, and the result would end in a 3-0 aggregate loss to the northern rivals, underscoring the level of competition in the league.
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GOAL coverage reflects a year of busy moments for Cruz Azul, a club watched closely by fans in the United States and Canada who share a passion for Liga MX and its rivalries. The 2022 season featured dramatic outcomes, leadership changes, and a trophy that kept the club in the spotlight across North American soccer markets.