| Cruz Azul 5- 0 Vancouver FC 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round 1 (Leg 2) Estadio Cuauhtémoc |
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Vancouver FC's first international flight was a turbulent one, ending in a 5-0 loss to Cruz Azul (8-0 on aggregate) in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Thursday.
Down three goals after last Wednesday's first leg in Langley, the literal and figurative mountain that the Eagles had to climb on Thursday at Estadio Cuauhtémoc proved too great against a ruthless and clinical opponent.
Luka Romero scored a hat-trick inside 62 minutes for Cruz Azul, as they look every bit a contender again in this year's Champions Cup.
Still, against the backdrop of a historic stadium and facing some of the region's best players, it will be a special night for the young club when they get a moment to reflect on it. In just their fourth season of existence, they bravely battled against one of the continent's most successful clubs.
"It's not often you lose 5-0, and I feel like five or six of my guys played great games," said Vancouver FC head coach Martin Nash. "That speaks to the quality of Cruz Azul."
Vancouver FC made just one change to their starting eleven from the first leg, bringing in 20-year-old Kian Proctor for his first start as a left-sided full-back. They did, however, also shift formation, going to a 5-4-1 from the 4-4-2 they played in the first leg -- with defenders spread across the wide Estadio Cuauhtémoc pitch.
Cruz Azul, meanwhile, made five changes from the first leg. With so many new players in their eleven, the hosts looked disconnected through the early stages despite enjoying the majority of possession and territorial advantage.
The visitors, meanwhile, were tenacious in their tackles, not making it easy for la máquina to progress the ball. The rough and tumble first half saw several stoppages due to injuries, creating a pace that certainly would have suited the visitors -- allowing them to catch their breath at altitude.
For 37 minutes, they frustrated Cruz Azul. But eventually, the quality of the Mexican giants won out. Running through midfield, José Paradela beat his man with a stunning dribble before finding Jeremy Márquez. He, in turn, played an outstanding slip ball into the path of Romero, who, despite being pushed to the ground, lifted the ball over Callum Irving.
The Eagles nearly responded immediately, as Proctor did well to keep a hopeful ball in play down the left touchline, crossing it into the path of Thierno Bah. The VFC attacker had a loose touch, but was cleaned out by his defender in the box. For the second straight match, however, the Eagles and Bah had a penalty shout go unheard.
Smelling blood in the water, Cruz Azul kept pushing and hit the post on a corner not long thereafter. In first half stoppage time, it was Romero again who nodded home a second after somehow getting open in the box despite being surrounded by white Vancouver shirts.
With the tie firmly in their control, Cruz Azul made three changes at the half, bringing off regulars Willer Ditta, who was on a booking, as well as Márquez and Paradela.
Meanwhile, in search of what would be a historic consolation goal, Vancouver FC played far more aggressively in attack, given clear license to get forward to start they second half. They too made three changes around the 55-minute mark, with David Norman, Abdoulaye Ouattara and Tyler Crawford checking into the match.
But it was Romero's night, and in the 62nd minute, he was given a bit of good fortune as a reward for his quality and effort. Collecting the ball to the right of Irving's net, he looked to hit a cross that instead struck Matteo Campagna and fooled the Eagles' goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick.
La máquina did not stop there. On a set piece in the 68th minute, Jorge Barragan headed home a fourth. Then in the 74th minute, Morey Doney was dispossessed in his own box by substitute Nicolás Ibáñez, who made it five.
It was a tough ending to Vancouver FC's inaugural foray into the Concacaf Champions Cup, where they had some bright moments but were ultimately outshone by a brilliant opponent.
The effort of the group, however, in their second match of the season and at altitude in Puebla, can hardly be faulted. It is this sort of workrate that could be the foundation of something special for the Eagles this season.
"I think the way we competed, the spirit we showed for 90 minutes in both games, I'm really pleased that we didn't give up," said Nash. "We kept fighting, we kept trying to cause them problems."
To put things in perspective, of course, this is a Cruz Azul that defeated VFC's neighbour, Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps, by the same 5-0 scoreline in the final of last year's Champions Cup.
On Thursday, and over the two legs, Vancouver FC were given a taste of the highest standard of football the region has to offer. The club, the staff and the players will be better for the lessons that they've learned.
Now, given a taste of what continental competition has to offer, they are hungry to get back.
"It's a massive motivation to have quality games like these," said Nash. "Players got a chance to showcase themselves against a top-quality opponent. I think we're really going to fight to get back here into this competition."
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Cruz Azul: Ochoa; Ditta (Lira 46'), Rodarte, Campos (Valdez 55'); Morales, Romero, Montaňo (Ebere 70'), Márquez (C.Rodríguez 46'); Paradela (Ibáñez 46'), Fernández, Garcia
Vancouver FC: Irving; Proctor (Crawford 55'), Campagna, Field, Gee, Doner; Toomey (Norman Jr. 55'), Pecile (Ouattara 55'), Polisi (Mezquida 65'), Bah (Campbell 70'); Amissi
Goals
37' — Luka Romero (Cruz Azul)
45+1' -- Luka Romero (Cruz Azul)
62' -- Luka Romero (Cruz Azul)
68' -- Jorge Barragan (Cruz Azul)
74' -- Nicolás Ibáñez (Cruz Azul)
Discipline
16' — Yellow: Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul)
82' -- Yellow: David Norman Jr. (Vancouver FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Luka Romero, Cruz Azul
A brilliant hat-trick from the 21-year-old represented the first three goals on the night for Cruz Azul. And even thereafter, he never stopped running for the full 90 minutes, emblematic of his side's performance.
What’s next?
Cruz Azul advance to the round of 16, where they face a difficult test in their title defence against fellow LigaMX side CF Monterrey.
For Vancouver, they now switch focus to preparations for the 2026 Canadian Premier League season. They kick off their campaign on April 4 when they host the Halifax Wanderers at Willoughby Stadium.
Watch all 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and CPL matches live in Canada on OneSoccer.
