Final 1987 vs América
The Cement Machine of Mexican football.
Club de Futbol Cruz Azul S.A. de C.V., commonly known as Cruz Azul, is a Mexican professional football club based in Mexico City. The club competes in Liga MX and plays its home matches at Estadio Azteca. Founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, the club relocated to Mexico City in 1971. Cruz Azul are one of only seven Mexican clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight.
- Venue_Series
- Estadio Azteca (first leg), Estadio Azteca (second leg)
Lore & Background
Cruz Azul was founded in the late 1920s in Jasso, Hidalgo, where cement company Cooperativa La Cruz Azul fostered a connection with football. Carlos Garcés López, a footballer and dentist employed by the cooperative, advocated for football to become the company's official sport. After a referendum on 22 March 1927, football was selected, and the team was formally established on 22 May 1927. Between 1932 and 1943, Cruz Azul won 15 consecutive league titles in a local amateur league in Hidalgo. The club earned direct promotion to the Primera División by finishing first in the 1963–64 Segunda División season.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Estadio Azul was thick with anticipation as the blue sea of fans roared in unison. The pitch, a perfect emerald under the floodlights, seemed to shrink between the two giants. As the referee blew the whistle for the second leg, the tension was palpable; every pass from América felt like a threat, but the Cruz Azul defense stood like an immovable wall. In that moment, history wasn't just being written; it was being forged in the sweat and grit of men determined to bring another trophy home.
Reader's Guide
Domestically, the club has won ten league titles, four Copa MX, four Campeón de Campeones, and holds the joint-record with one Supercopa de la Liga MX and one Supercopa MX. In international competitions, with seven titles, the club holds the joint-record for the most successful club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League. Cruz Azul also holds the distinction of being the club with the most league runner-up finishes (12), and the first team from CONCACAF to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores. The club achieved a continental treble in the 1968–69 season, becoming the first CONCACAF club and third worldwide to accomplish this feat, and later the first club worldwide to have won the continental treble twice.
Did You Know?
- Cruz Azul was founded by workers of a cement cooperative and retains a working-class identity.
- The club was originally based in Jasso, Hidalgo, before moving to Mexico City in 1971.
- Cruz Azul is one of only seven Mexican clubs never to have been relegated from the top flight.
- Cruz Azul has won six CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles (1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2014).
- Cruz Azul was the first CONCACAF club to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 1987 Final between Cruz Azul and América?
This Liga MX championship clash featured the dominant Celestes facing off against their historic city rivals, Club América. The competition was played across Estadio Azul and Estadio Olímpico Universitario during a time when Cruz Azul ruled Mexican football.
Who emerged as champions in this classic matchup?
Cruz Azul secured the title after winning the decisive second leg to become champions. This victory crowned their second consecutive dynasty in Mexican football history.
Which key players defined the tactical battle?
The series is defined by the battle between América star Hugo Sánchez and the organized Cruz Azul defense tasked with stopping him. Their individual performances showcased the strategic brilliance required to win this high-stakes tournament.
Why is this specific final considered so important?
Fans revere this match for the intense competition between rivals and the high stakes involved during that golden era. It remains a defining moment when Cruz Azul overcame their arch-rivals to claim another league crown.
How did the two-leg series ultimately conclude?
The tournament ended with Cruz Azul claiming victory in the second leg, shutting down América's title hopes at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario. This outcome confirmed the Celestes as the dominant force within Mexican football during that specific period.
More in Iconic Matches & Classics
Elsewhere in the Cruz Azul universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record