Cruz Azul Edges Juarez In Seven-Goal Liga MX Thriller

On a brisk evening in Ciudad Juárez, fans at Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez were treated to a wild, goal-laden spectacle as Cruz Azul edged FC Juárez 4-3 in a Liga MX Torneo Clausura clash that will be remembered for its relentless pace, dramatic swings, and a flurry of late goals. The match, played on January 30, 2026, capped off Jornada 4 with both sides fighting for crucial points in the early season standings.

Heading into the contest, the stakes were clear. FC Juárez, led by manager Pedro Caixinha, had their sights set on a second win to vault into the upper echelon of the table. With just four points from three games, the Bravos were desperate to ignite their campaign and give their home supporters something to cheer about. Cruz Azul, under the guidance of Nicolás Larcamón, arrived in fine form after two consecutive victories, sitting fourth with six points—just three adrift of leaders Guadalajara. The visitors were eager to keep their momentum and possibly seize the top spot with another win.

The action kicked off at 10:06 PM local time, and barely had the crowd settled in when Cruz Azul struck. Agustín Palavecino opened the scoring in the very first minute, finishing off a right-footed shot from the center of the box after a slick assist from Gabriel Fernández. The visitors’ intent was crystal clear: attack early, silence the home crowd, and dictate the tempo.

Juárez, caught flat-footed by the early blow, struggled to find their rhythm. Just six minutes later, Cruz Azul doubled their lead as José Paradela unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area, leaving the Juárez defense scrambling. The Bravos looked shell-shocked, their hopes of a home resurgence slipping away before the ten-minute mark.

Despite the early onslaught, Juárez refused to wilt. They began to claw their way back into the game, finding some joy down the flanks and pushing for a response. Their efforts finally paid off in the 39th minute when Rodolfo Rotondi found the net, sparking life into the home side and their fans. At 2-1, the match seemed poised for a fierce battle, but Cruz Azul had other ideas. Just before halftime, Carlos Rodríguez restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion with a well-placed finish, sending Cruz Azul into the break with a 3-1 advantage. The first half ended with Cruz Azul firmly in control, but the drama was far from over.

The second half opened with renewed urgency from Juárez. They pressed high and tested the Cruz Azul backline, but it was the visitors who struck again. In the 51st minute, Rodríguez bagged his second of the night, making it 4-1 and seemingly putting the game out of reach. Yet, if there’s one thing Liga MX fans know, it’s that no lead is ever truly safe.

Momentum began to shift as the Bravos, spurred on by their home crowd, mounted a relentless assault. The turning point came in the 81st minute when Guilherme Castilho capitalized on a corner, smashing home a left-footed shot from close range to cut the deficit to 4-2. Suddenly, belief surged through the Juárez ranks.

Moments later, Cruz Azul’s Gabriel Fernández was shown a red card after an altercation, reducing the visitors to ten men and giving Juárez a glimmer of hope. The Bravos poured forward, and in the first minute of stoppage time, Óscar Estupiñán rose to the occasion. He powered home a header from the left side of the box, making it 4-3 and setting up a frantic finish.

The dying moments were a blur of desperate defending, near misses, and passionate appeals. Juárez pressed for an equalizer, but Cruz Azul held firm, surviving a late onslaught that saw Estupiñán fouled deep in the opposition half at 90’+10’. The referee’s whistle at 90’+11’ signaled the end of a heart-stopping contest, with Cruz Azul escaping with all three points.

“We showed great character to come back, but we left ourselves too much to do,” said a visibly disappointed Juárez player after the match, echoing the sentiments of many in the stadium. The Bravos’ late surge was impressive, but the early defensive lapses proved costly.

For Cruz Azul, the victory was a testament to their attacking prowess and resilience under pressure. Scoring four goals away from home is no mean feat, and Larcamón’s men demonstrated why they’re considered serious contenders this season. “It was a tough match, but we stayed focused and took our chances,” said a Cruz Azul midfielder, reflecting on the team’s ability to withstand Juárez’s late barrage.

Statistically, the match was a rollercoaster. Cruz Azul’s goals came from Palavecino (1’), Paradela (7’), Rotondi (39’), and Rodríguez (51’), while Juárez responded through Rotondi (39’), Castilho (81’), and Estupiñán (45’+10’ penalty, 90’+1’). The hosts saw several opportunities go begging, including a missed penalty by Carlos Rotondi at 62’, which could have further widened the gap. The match also featured a flurry of substitutions, tactical fouls, and a red card, adding to the drama and unpredictability.

Pre-match predictions had tipped Cruz Azul as favorites, with advanced statistical models giving them a 49.5% chance of victory, compared to Juárez’s 25.1%. Bettors who backed the visitors at +110 odds were rewarded, as were those who took the over on 2.5 goals—a line that was shattered by the seven-goal thriller. The most likely predicted score was a 1-1 draw, but the teams had other plans, delivering an attacking showcase that defied expectations.

The result leaves Cruz Azul in second place on the Liga MX table with nine points from four matches, level with Guadalajara but trailing on goal difference. Juárez, meanwhile, sits 11th with four points after four games—a position that belies their fighting spirit but highlights the need for greater consistency, especially at the back.

The match also served as a reminder of Liga MX’s trademark unpredictability. With both teams trading blows and momentum swinging wildly, fans were left breathless, wondering what might have been had Juárez started stronger or Cruz Azul maintained their discipline late on.

As the dust settles, Cruz Azul’s campaign gathers steam, while Juárez must regroup quickly if they’re to climb the standings. With the season still young and plenty of twists ahead, both teams will look to build on the lessons learned from this unforgettable encounter.