Club America Wins 13th Liga MX Title, Claims Apertura on Edson Alvarez's Brace

Edson Alvarez scored a brace to lead Club America past Cruz Azul and to the 2018 Liga MX Apertura title.

It took nearly 140 minutes of action to get a goal over the two legs in the 2018 Liga MX Apertura final but when the moment finally came, Edson Alvarez was more than up to the task, curling a beautiful shot past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona—and later adding a second in the waning minutes—to secure Club America its record 13th title. 

Midway through the second leg of the Apertura final, you could be forgiven for thinking much of the same scoreless action was in store for another 90 minutes as both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances and break the final open. Then disaster struck for Cruz Azul.

Corona opted for a short pass out of the box on a goal kick, immediately putting Ivan Marcone in danger as he was descended upon by Oribe Peralta. Peralta was able to knick the ball off Marcone and set up Alvarez, who had plenty of time and space to curl the winner past Corona.

This is awful from Cruz Azul but the finish, the finish from Alvarez is 🔥 (📹:@UnivisionSports)pic.twitter.com/NdhpGKtiCB

— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) December 17, 2018

Cruz Azul continued to try and get itself back into the game, but America wouldn't budge, even as the game grew chippy.

It wouldn't matter for Miguel Herrera's side who, unlike the first leg, wouldn't need heroics from Agustin Marchesin. Alvarez effectively secured America's title over its Mexico City rival after he pounced on a saved shot in the 90th minute.

Alvarez strikes again to assure Club America the Apertura title! (via @UnivisionSports) pic.twitter.com/Tq5irMJHuh

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) December 17, 2018

This is America's first Apertura title since 2014, while Cruz Azul's title wait continues—the club hasn't won a domestic title since 1997.