Cruz Azul Downs Morelia on a Less-Than-Starry Night

With the Mexican first division taking a two-week sabbatical in observance of upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, Cruz Azul and Morelia were devoid of star power for their friendly at the Coliseum on Wednesday night.

Javier Orozco more than made up for the second-team feel, his stunning bicycle kick goal off a Mario Ortiz cross from the right side in the 68th minute giving Cruz Azul a 2-1 victory.

Ortiz’s 14th-minute score had given Cruz Azul a 1-0 lead before Damian Alvarez tied it for Morelia in the 39th minute.

Second-place Cruz Azul, fresh off its 5-0 victory over Pumas on Sunday, was missing forwards Cesar Delgado (Argentina) and Francisco Fonseca (Mexico), midfielders John Restrepo (Colombia) and Gerardo Torrado (Mexico) and defender Ricardo Osorio (Mexico).

Plus, it was without defenders Salvador Carmona and Aaron Galindo, both kicked out of the Confederations Cup in June after testing positive for a banned substance, reportedly the anabolic steroid norandrosterone, and receiving one-year bans from the Mexican Federation.

Morelia, tied for 11th in the 18-team Mexican league after six games of the Apertura season, played without goalkeeper Moises Munoz (Mexico).

Although nearly 89,000 filled the Coliseum for the doubleheader between full squads of Chivas de Guadalajara and Club America, and Chivas USA and the Galaxy on Aug. 10, Cruz Azul and Morelia drew an announced 14,295.

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-- Paul Gutierrez