The Apertura 2008 Liguilla Final was a two-legged football match-up to determine the Apertura 2008 champions. The series was contested between Toluca and Cruz Azul, both of whom were playing in their first final against each other.
Final rules Like other match-ups in the knockout round, the teams will play two games, one at each team's home stadium. As the highest seeded team determined at the beginning of the Liguilla, Toluca was to have home-field advantage for the second leg. If the teams remained tied after 90 minutes of play during the 2nd leg, extra time will be used, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.
Final summary
First leg The First Leg was played in front of a capacity crowd at Estadio Azul in Mexico City. Paulo da Silva opened up the scoreboard with a goal in the 14th minute followed by a superb free kick by Sergio Amaury Ponce at the 22nd minute. Cruz Azul could not find an answer in the 2nd half though they were playing better, Hernán Cristante of Toluca had a sensational game under the three posts. The final score left Toluca with a 2-goal advantage going into the next leg.
CRUZ AZUL: GK 25 Yosgart GutiérrezDF 8 Carlos BonetDF 14 Joaquín Beltrán DF 13 Alejandro Castro DF 21 Jaime LozanoMF 6 Gerardo Torrado (c)MF 7 Cristian Riveros MF 23 Edgar Lugo MF 18 César VillaluzFW 11 Miguel Sabah FW 9 Pablo Zeballos Substitutes:GK 1 Alfonso BlancoDF 32 Emilio Hassan Viades DF 16 Rogelio ChávezMF 5 Gabino VelascoFW 29 Martín GalvánFW 19 Alejandro Vela FW 15 Nicolás Vigneri Manager: Benjamín GalindoTOLUCA: GK 1 Hernán CristanteDF 16 Sergio Amaury PonceDF 14 Edgar DueñasDF 3 Paulo Da Silva (c)DF 6 Manuel De La TorreMF 55 Israel LópezMF 5 Martín Romagnoli MF 75 Néstor Calderón MF 10 Zinha FW 11 Carlos EsquivelFW 9 Héctor Mancilla Substitutes:GK 12 César LozanoDF 24 José Manuel CruzaltaDF 4 Miguel AlmazánDF 29 Mario MéndezMF 18 Carlos Adrián MoralesMF 21 Diego De La Torre FW 59 Raúl Nava Manager: José Manuel De la Torre Assistant referees: Alberto Morín Méndez Carlos Ayala Cuéllar Fourth official: José Alfredo Peñaloza Soto
Second leg
TOLUCA: GK 1 Hernán CristanteDF 16 Sergio Amaury Ponce DF 14 Edgar DueñasDF 3 Paulo Da Silva (c)DF 6 Manuel De La Torre MF 55 Israel LópezMF 5 Martín Romagnoli MF 75 Néstor Calderón MF 10 Zinha FW 11 Carlos EsquivelFW 9 Héctor Mancilla Substitutes:GK 12 César LozanoDF 24 José Manuel Cruzalta DF 4 Miguel Almazán DF 29 Mario MéndezMF 18 Carlos Adrián MoralesMF 21 Diego De La Torre FW 59 Raúl Nava Manager: José Manuel De la TorreCRUZ AZUL: GK 25 Yosgart GutiérrezDF 8 Carlos Bonet DF 14 Joaquín Beltrán DF 4 Julio César Domínguez DF 16 Rogelio Chávez MF 6 Gerardo Torrado (c) MF 7 Cristian Riveros MF 19 Alejandro Vela MF 18 César VillaluzFW 11 Miguel Sabah FW 15 Nicolás Vigneri Substitutes:GK 1 Alfonso BlancoDF 3 Joel HuiquiDF 32 Emilio Hassan Viades DF 21 Jaime Lozano MF 5 Gabino VelascoMF 23 Edgar Lugo FW 9 Pablo Zeballos Manager: Benjamín Galindo Assistant referees: Arturo Velázquez Ramírez Antonio López Chávez Fourth official: Francisco Chacón Gutiérrez
References