by Mark Walsh

Mexican soccer’s Clásico Joven between Cruz Azul and América might boast less than 40 years of direct history but it has quickly grown up to be among the Primera División’s fiercest rivalries. The capital city derby is a story of swinging fortunes and jealous neighbours, of a shared stadium and two periods of glorious success that helped create giants of the modern game.

At first, of course, matches between the Celestes of Cruz Azul and the Águilas of América were not classed as derbies at all. Founded by workers of the Cruz Azul cement company in 1927, the Light Blues were originally based in the town of Jasso, in the state of Hidalgo, 100 miles north of Mexico City. The team enjoyed a proud amateur history boasting numerous regional titles, but only turned professional in 1960, earning promotion to the Primera División four years later under the command of Hungarian coach Jorge Marik.

As the newest addition to the Maximum Circuit, Cruz Azul quickly consolidated their status and were crowned champions for the first time in the 1968-69 season, followed by a further title in the Mexico70 short tournament. It was not until a year later, however, that fans of the Celestes and the Eagles of América found plenty of reason to cultivate a healthy hatred.

By this time, América had already become established as a ruthless professional force under the ownership of media tycoon Emilio Azcárraga Milmo. With president Guillermo Cañedas pulling the strings behind the scenes, coach Ignacio Trelles (who would later coach Cruz Azul) was handed generous amounts of money to hire foreign talent and the Eagles took their first league title in the 1965-1966 season.

By the 1971-72 season, however, Cruz Azul had outgrown their modest fan base in Hidalgo and began looking for ways of broadening their appeal. The solution was a move to share the mighty Estadio Azteca in Mexico City – the traditional home of América. Muscling in on their rivals’ patch was bad enough, but Cruz Azul rubbed salt in the wound by celebrating the change of address with a comprehensive victory in the 1971-72 tournament – thrashing their new landlords América 4-1 in the final.

And so the Clásico Joven exploded into life.

Since the dramatic birth in 1972, the Clásico Joven has matured at a rapid rate – mostly thanks to the continued success of both teams. The statistics speak for themselves. Cruz Azul and América have clashed 114 times in professional matches, and have met a record 23 times in playoff matches. Both clubs are among Mexico’s most successful, with América’s haul of 10 titles just one behind all-time leaders Chivas on 11, while Cruz Azul sit in third with eight championships.

Nevertheless, it was the Cement Men of Cruz Azul who gained an early advantage in the baby years of the Clásico Joven. Buoyed by rising support after the move to the Azteca, the Light Blues enjoyed a golden period in the 1970s. After the audacious win in 1972, Cruz Azul defended their title twice more to claim an historic tri-campeonato – a feat only achieved once before in the professional era. Two more championships followed in 1978-79 and 1979-80 as the new kids on the block dominated the Primera División and earned the nickname La Máquina - “The Machine” - which is still used today.

Initially, mighty América were left somewhat in the slipstream of their cocky young tenants. Despite having claimed the 1969-70 title, the Águilas had to wait until 1973 to claim their first victory in the “new” derby. A 2-1 victory in the Estadio Azteca was earned courtesy of goals by Chilean genius Carlos Reinoso (perhaps the greatest forward ever to wear the yellow and blue of América) and Oswaldo Castro, with Antonio Márquez scoring for Cruz Azul.

The same season also marked a satisfying triumph for América over Cruz Azul in the Mexican Cup final. Oswaldo Castro was again on the scoresheet as the Águilas repeated the 2-1 league victory in an ill-tempered game marked by red cards for América’s Mario Pérez and Juan Ramón Ocampo, of Cruz Azul. 

By the 1980s, however, the balance of power in the Joven Clásico took a marked swing in the direction of the Americanistas. A swashbuckling 5-0 victory for the Eagles in the 1981-82 season seemed a symbol of a new order in the Primera División and América used the springboard of success in the Clásico Joven to launch their own golden era, with five titles in the mid 1980s.

The last of these league titles in 1989 claimed thorough retribution for the Cruz Azul victory that had kicked off the Clásico Joven 18 years earlier. A first leg victory of 3-2, with goals from Luis Roberto Alves, Carlos Hermosillo and Antonio Carlos Santos enabled América to hold on for a sweet revenge and an eighth professional league title.

Neither of the Clásico Joven rivals has managed to replicate the run of trophies enjoyed by Cruz Azul in the 70s or América in the 80s, although the successes firmly established both clubs among the giants of Mexican soccer. Cruz Azul moved out of the Estadio Azteca in 1996 and a year later hoisted the Primera División trophy for the eighth and last time, briefly leveling scores with América.

América scored two further league titles in 2002 and 2005 and currently hold a strong hoodoo over Cruz Azul, with a ten-match unbeaten run, including five victories in a row. That record will be put to a severe test on Sunday, however, when Cruz Azul will look to pick up their first Clásico Joven win since 2003.

Despite sitting bottom of the Primera División for the first time in 38 years, América president Guillermo Cañedo insists defeat to Cruz Azul – which would equal a club record six defeats on the trot - would be “unthinkable”. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul are enjoying good form in the Primera División where they sit comfortably in fourth position.

Their recent record against América might be dreadful, but Cruz Azul fans can point at the very roots of the Clásico Joven for solace – it’s just like a cement mixer: what goes around, comes around.

 Read more Features on Mexican Derbies:

The Richest Clásico in Mexico