Cruz Azul thrash Vancouver, Luka Romero hits hat-trick in Concacaf | OneFootball

In a dominant fashion and with Luka Romero shining, Cruz Azul advanced to the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions League. The match took place this Thursday, a thrashing against the Canadian Vancouver FC by 5-0 in the second leg of the group stage.

With this victory at the Cuauhtémoc Stadium in Puebla, La Máquina Celeste advanced to the second phase with an aggregate score of 8-0.

“The opponent's ranking suggested that the series could be won long before it even started, but it won't always be like this. If there's something to highlight, it's the seriousness and commitment we have as a group to win with the authority that Cruz Azul's history deserves in this tournament,” said Nicolás Larcamón, coach of La Máquina Celeste.

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Luka Romero was the star of the match with a hat-trick.

At 37 minutes, Romero received a deep pass inside the area and, while falling to the ground, finished with a subtle touch, passing goalkeeper Callum Irving, making it 1-0.

Romero extended the lead to 2-0 with a header at 45+1 minutes, assisted by Omar Campos.

At 62 minutes, after a run down the right, Romero invaded the area and shot, but the ball was deflected by defender Matteo Campagna, making it 3-0.

Jorge Rodarse scored the fourth with a header from the edge of the small area at 68 minutes.

And, in his debut with the Cruz Azul jersey, Argentine Nicolás Ibáñez sealed the 5-0 thrashing with a close-range shot at 74 minutes.

In the round of 16, the current champion Cruz Azul will face Monterrey.

Only Pumas disappointed

Five Mexican clubs participated in this first phase of the Concacaf tournament, and four advanced to the round of 16: Tigres, América, Monterrey, and Cruz Azul.

The only Mexican team eliminated was Pumas, who defeated San Diego FC from the United States. The match ended 1-0 on Tuesday, but the Mexican team lost the tie with an aggregate score of 4-2.

In the round of 16 of its first participation in the Concacaf Champions League, San Diego FC will face Toluca, the two-time Mexican champion, who qualified directly for this phase.

Tigres demonstrated its offensive power on Tuesday at its stadium, the Estadio Universitario de Monterrey. It defeated Forge Stadium from Canada by 4-1, advancing with the same aggregate score.

Tigres will face the winner of the tie between FC Cincinnati from MLS and the debutant Universidad O&M from the Dominican Republic in the round of 16.

On Wednesday, Club América drew 0-0 with Olimpia from Honduras at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City. Even so, it advanced to the round of 16 thanks to a 2-1 victory away from home.

The next opponent for the Eagles will be the winner of the tie between Philadelphia Union from the United States and Defence Force from Trinidad and Tobago.

Monterrey had no difficulties defeating Xelajú from Guatemala by 2-0, eliminating them with an aggregate score of 3-1.

*With content from AFP.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.