César Garza's early goal secured a key three points for Club de Fútbol Monterrey in their push for the playoffs. The 1-0 victory over Cruz Azul in matchday 9 of the Apertura 2026 keeps Matías Almeyda's side in eighth place in Liga MX with 13 points.
The decisive moment came swiftly. Jesús Corona provided the assist from the right flank, slipping a pass through for Garza to finish clinically past Kevin Mier in the 7th minute. The early strike forced Cruz Azul, managed by Joel Huiqui, to chase the game, but Monterrey's defensive block held firm.
Cementeros lack cutting edge
Cruz Azul enjoyed 53% of possession but struggled to break down a well-organised Monterrey side set up in a 4-2-3-1. The visitors managed 12 shots, four on target, but goalkeeper Esteban Andrada was equal to them with four saves. Monterrey created the clearer chances, firing 17 attempts with five on target.
The match grew tense around the hour mark, with yellow cards shown to Garza and Gabriel Fernández for an argument, and another to Gonzalo Piovi for a foul. Almeyda turned to his bench, introducing Stefan Medina, Fidel Ambriz and Jorge Rodríguez to see out the win. The result ends a two-match winless run for Monterrey and improves their season tally to 14 goals scored.
Monterrey's next fixture is an away trip to face Atlante FC on Saturday, 26 September. Another win could see them close the six-point gap to league leaders Toluca. The squad will aim to replicate the defensive solidity shown in this match, having conceded only 10 goals in eight games so far.
