MEXICO CITY - Club Deportivo Cruz Azul started their participation in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup on the right foot, after defeating Real Hope of Haiti 2-0 in the first leg of the first round. The match, held at the Cibao FC Stadium in the Dominican Republic, saw the Mexican team assert their dominance with goals from Ángel Sepúlveda and an own goal by the opponent.
From the initial whistle, Cruz Azul showed their intention to dominate the match, although they encountered a well-organized Real Hope in defense. The Haitian team set up a tight game, aiming to contain the Machine's attacks and betting on counterattacks. However, Cruz Azul's persistence paid off in the 38th minute, when Sepúlveda took advantage of a rebound inside the area to open the scoring with a powerful shot that left the opposing goalkeeper with no options.
In the second half, Cruz Azul's dominance intensified, and despite not creating many clear goal opportunities, the Mexican team maintained control of the match. The second goal came in the 75th minute, when a cross from Cruz Azul was deflected by a Real Hope defender, sending the ball into their own net.
With the 2-0 lead, Cruz Azul focused on controlling the time and preventing any attempt at a comeback from Real Hope. The Mexican team showed defensive solidity and managed to maintain the lead until the end of the match.
