Cruz Azul's La Máquina Cementera secured a crucial 3-2 victory over CF Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup. This triumph not only brings them closer to the Quarterfinals but also marks the end of a significant drought against Liga MX teams in this competition. This milestone is particularly noteworthy when recalling that the last time Cruz Azul defeated another Mexican club in the Champions Cup was in 2011, with a 3-1 score against Santos Laguna.

The thrilling first leg of the Round of 16 took place on Tuesday at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon. Érik Lira opened the scoring for Cruz Azul in the 25th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball to put the visitors ahead.

However, Monterrey's Rayados responded strongly. Roberto de la Rosa equalized in the 35' after a Carlos Salcedo header from a corner kick, and five minutes later, de la Rosa himself put the hosts in the lead with his second goal of the night, leaving Cruz Azul trailing at halftime.

La Máquina's comeback began in the second half. Gonzalo Piovi leveled the score from the penalty spot in the 84th minute, after Monterrey goalkeeper Santiago Mele was sent off for a second yellow card. The tension remained high until the very last minute.

The decisive blow came in the 90th minute when Nicolás Ibáñez smashed a sensational volley from an Omar Campos cross, sealing the 3-2 victory and stunning the home crowd. This win is not only Cruz Azul's first against CF Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup since the 2008 format change, but also their first victory against a Liga MX opponent in the competition since that memorable 3-1 win against Santos Laguna in 2011.

With this result, Cruz Azul becomes the second team in the current Concacaf Champions Cup to win a match after trailing at halftime. La Máquina now prepares to host the second leg next week at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, aiming to secure their spot in the Quarterfinals. Cruz Azul's record against Mexican clubs in the competition since 2011 had been three draws and three losses, making this victory even more significant.