Atletico de San Luis vs Cruz Azul 2-3: Late Jeremy Marquez Brace Completes Stunning Comeback for Liga MX Champions

The reigning Liga MX champions showcased their resilience, overturning a two-goal disadvantage in the second half to secure a dramatic opening-night victory.

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@LigaBBVAMX

The reigning champions of Mexican football initiated their title defense with a definitive display of character and late-game drama. In the opening round of the Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament, Cruz Azul executed a thrilling second-half comeback to secure a 3-2 victory over Atletico de San Luis at Estadio Alfonso Lastras. Under the tactical guidance of manager Joel Huiqui, the visiting side overcame a two-goal deficit, with midfielder Jeremy Marquez clinical finishing sealing the three points deep into stoppage time.

La Maquina controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, creating the most dangerous opportunities of the first half through the attacking movements of Carlos Rodriguez, Osinachi Christian Ebere, and Carlos Rodolfo Rotondi. San Luis goalkeeper Andres Sanchez produced a sequence of crucial interventions to maintain the deadlock, aided by the crossbar which denied a powerful, close-range strike from Rotondi in the 44th minute following a neat layoff from Ebere.

The dynamics of the match shifted completely immediately after the interval. In the 46th minute, Sebastien Salles-Lamonge capitalized on a clearance from goalkeeper Kevin Mier, unleashing a technical volley from the edge of the area to open the scoring. The tactical disarray in the visitors' defense worsened just four minutes later when debutant Rafael Llorente controlled a long pass with his chest and calmly slotted a low effort past Mier to extend the lead to 2-0.

In response to the setback, Joel Huiqui utilized a triple substitution in the 55th minute, introducing Gabriel Fernandez, Luka Romero, and Nicolas Ibañez to alter the attacking dynamic. The strategic shift paid dividends in the 62nd minute when a VAR review alerted referee Adonai Escobedo to a foul by Salles-Lamonge on Jose Paradela inside the penalty box. Gabriel "Toro" Fernandez took charge of the ensuing penalty, driving a powerful shot down the middle to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

Cruz Azul continuous offensive pressure eventually unpicked the home side's low block in the 80th minute. Following an assist from substitute Luka Romero, Jeremy Marquez gathered the ball inside the six-yard box, turned his marker with composure, and converted past Sanchez to equalize.

With a share of the points appearing certain as the match entered injury time, the individual quality of the champions decided the outcome. In the 90+2 minute, Marquez received the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a precise right-footed strike into the bottom corner, securing both his brace and a memorable 3-2 opening victory.