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It’s been months, and honestly, the tension hasn't really faded. If you walk into any cantina in Mexico City or scroll through a Liga MX thread today, mention the América vs Cruz Azul final 2024 and watch the room split in half. It’s one of those games. A game that didn't just end with a trophy but with a permanent asterisk in the minds of the Celeste faithful.
You know the vibe. The Estadio Azteca was a pressure cooker. Rain was slicking the grass. Everyone expected a tactical masterclass from Martín Anselmi, the guy who basically resurrected Cruz Azul from the dead. Instead, we got a game defined by a single slide, a long VAR review, and a referee who became more famous than the players.
Basically, it was peak Mexican football.
The Play That Broke the Internet
Let's talk about the moment. The 71st minute. The score was 0-0 in the second leg, 1-1 on aggregate after a gritty first leg at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.
Israel Reyes, the América defender, makes a lung-bursting run into the box. He’s looking for something, anything. Rodolfo Rotondi—who had been stellar for Cruz Azul all season—slides in. It's a desperate move. Reyes goes down.
Marco Antonio "Gato" Ortiz doesn't hesitate. He points to the spot.
But wait.
The VAR summons him. For several agonizing minutes, the entire country watched Ortiz stare at a tiny screen. You’ve seen the footage. He looks at one angle, then another. The Cruz Azul players are buzzing in his ear. The América fans are screaming. Honestly, it felt like an eternity.
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Why the Controversy Still Stings
The "Gato" Ortiz decision is why the América vs Cruz Azul final 2024 remains so polarizing. Critics argue that Reyes "bought" the foul. If you watch the replay closely, Reyes sticks his leg out to initiate contact. Rotondi is already committed to the slide. In many leagues, that's a "no-call."
But Ortiz stuck to his guns. He ignored the VAR recommendation to overturn it and confirmed the penalty.
Henry Martín stepped up. Pressure? What pressure? "La Bomba" smashed it past Kevin Mier. That was it. One-nil. The 15th title for the Águilas. The bicampeonato.
The Anselmi Revolution vs. The Jardine Machine
Beyond the penalty, we have to give credit where it's due. André Jardine turned Club América into a juggernaut. They didn't just win; they dominated the regular season. Winning back-to-back titles in the short-tournament era is incredibly hard. Only Pumas, León, and Atlas had done it before them.
Then you have Cruz Azul.
Nobody expected them to be there. Anselmi brought a weird, fluid style of play that confused everyone. They played with three at the back, or five, or none—it changed every ten minutes. In the first leg, Uriel Antuna scored an early penalty after Luis Malagón tripped him. Julian Quiñones equalized almost immediately.
It was a chess match.
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The return leg at the Azteca was different. Cruz Azul actually looked like the better team for long stretches. Kevin Mier was making insane saves. Every time América tried to break, Willer Ditta was there to clean it up. They had the chances. Sepúlveda, Rivero—they just couldn't find the back of the net.
A Statistical Look at the Two Legs
When you look at the raw numbers, the América vs Cruz Azul final 2024 was surprisingly even.
- Aggregate Score: América 2 - 1 Cruz Azul
- Total Shots (Leg 2): América 11 - 15 Cruz Azul
- Possession (Leg 2): 48% - 52%
- Total Fouls: 32 across both matches
Cruz Azul actually out-shot América in their own stadium. They had more of the ball. But football isn't about stats; it's about moments. And América is the master of moments. They have this DNA, this weird ability to win even when they aren't playing their best. Some call it "greatness," others call it "luck" (or worse), but you can't deny the result.
What Really Happened With the Referee?
Post-match, the drama didn't stop. Usually, referees go into hiding after a controversial final. Not Gato Ortiz. He eventually "broke his silence" on social media, basically saying that if people thought it was controversial, that was their problem.
That didn't go over well.
The Mexican Referees Commission (Commission de Árbitros) even released the VAR audios to prove transparency. In the tapes, you can hear the VAR officials telling Ortiz that they don't see a clear foul. They tell him Rotondi’s leg is stationary and Reyes initiates the contact.
Ortiz says: "I don't care, for me, it's a penalty."
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(Okay, he didn't say it exactly like that, but that was the gist).
He felt the slide was reckless enough to warrant the foul regardless of who initiated the contact. It’s a technicality that still haunts Cruz Azul fans. It’s the difference between a 10th star and another year of "maybe next time."
The Aftermath and the "Grande" Status
This final changed the hierarchy of Mexican football for the next few years.
- América's Dynasty: They solidified themselves as the undisputed kings of the era. Fifteen titles. Three more than Chivas. The "Bicampeón" tag isn't just a nickname; it’s a warning to the rest of the league.
- The Cruz Azul Resurgence: Even in defeat, Cruz Azul proved they are back. The "Ghost of 2013" (another heartbreaking loss to América) still lingers, but this team feels different. They aren't "choking" anymore; they're competing.
- The Refereeing Crisis: The América vs Cruz Azul final 2024 forced the FMF (Mexican Football Federation) to look seriously at how VAR is used. When a ref ignores the video evidence, what’s the point of the video?
Insights for the Next Season
If you're a betting person or just a hardcore fan, here’s what this final taught us for the upcoming tournaments.
First off, don't bet against André Jardine. The man knows how to manage a locker room full of egos. Second, watch Cruz Azul’s recruitment. They lacked a "killer" in the box during that final. If they find a true #9 to complement Anselmi’s system, they’ll be terrifying.
Lastly, the rivalry is at an all-time high. The "Clásico Joven" used to be a distant third behind the "Clásico Nacional." Not anymore. The intensity, the bad blood, and the tactical complexity of the América vs Cruz Azul final 2024 have made this the most must-watch game in Mexico.
To really understand the impact, you have to look at the players who left. Julian Quiñones moved to Saudi Arabia shortly after. He left at the absolute peak, a legend in Coapa. Cruz Azul kept their core, doubling down on the "Anselmi-ball" philosophy.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Review the VAR Tapes: If you haven't heard the leaked audio from the final, find it on YouTube. It changes how you see the refereeing process.
- Watch the "Anselmi" Pressers: If you want to learn tactical football, listen to the Cruz Azul manager’s post-match analysis. He explains the "why" better than almost anyone in the league.
- Track the 15 vs 12 Debate: América fans will remind you of the 15 titles. Chivas and Cruz Azul fans will remind you of the "help." Pick a side, because there is no middle ground.
The América vs Cruz Azul final 2024 wasn't just a series of two games. It was a cultural event that redefined what it means to be a champion in Mexico. Whether you think it was a robbery or a masterclass, you can't stop talking about it. And in the world of sports, that’s the ultimate victory.