The Last Game at Estadio Azul

The result was the least important thing... neither of the two teams on the field were worshipped. No, the protagonist of this nostalgic afternoon was another, no more and no less than the silent scenery that for 22 years served as the home of Cruz Azul. Yes, it was the last soccer game at Estadio Azul.

Could it have had a better ending? Of course it could. Did it deserve it? Definitely. Because to the oldest stadium in Mexican soccer - the first one built with concrete - it was never given the recognition it deserved. Time won the battle too soon and relegated it to a third place in the capital (behind Azteca and Olímpico Universitario).

But it was always there with its unbeatable view of the field. Here, from any point, you could appreciate soccer very well. And when Cruz Azul arrived in 1996, they made sure to keep it in good condition, they fixed it up for the fans to have a better experience, although it lacked the most important thing... the victories and the titles.

Because Estadio Azul became, with La Máquina, the temple of sadness, of disappointing and unbelievable afternoons. Here, the runner-up was born, also the verb "cruzazulear", and there were only a few celebrations, three to be precise (one league title, one cup, and one Concachampions), although none of these were celebrated on this field. No, this was not a story of joys.

"HOW I LOVE YOU MORE EVERY DAY..."

There were more than two hours left before La Máquina's last game in their stadium - against Morelia on this occasion - and the streets surrounding the venue were flooded with celestial fans. It was an atmosphere worthy of a final, something that seems very distant and alien to this Cruz Azul.

At the main entrance, people crowded to take a selfie or a commemorative photo. Azul was born in a time (1946) when images were in black and white, and it took days to develop them, when computers were huge and no one envisioned the existence of the internet; today, in the final stretch of its history, this stadium became the star of social media and its last day with La Máquina became a trending topic.

And the people did not abandon the venue that they came to consider as their soccer home. The date had been known for a couple of weeks, when Cruz Azul had few options of reaching the playoffs. So it was time to say goodbye to their beloved Azul, with the best face and attitude.

No reproaches or anger for the bad afternoons lived. Today was a day of celebration, like those village celebrations where the atmosphere never fades. First it was at the team's reception, treating them like champions and not like the sad squad that, for the seventh time in the last four years, missed the playoffs.

Then the fans arrived, with their chants and their music, the streets were blue and the stadium was starting to fill with the same fervor. The time came for the teams to come out, and the mosaic could be seen in the north stand, moments later the stadium was flooded with an emotional waving of blue, white, and red scarves. The chorus was moving... "ole, ole, ole, ole, ola, how I love you more every day... I am celestial, it's a feeling that will never die".

Again and again, after the two goals, at halftime and of course at the end of the game. It was the day for this crowd to sing with their soul to their beloved Estadio Azul. Yes, for the last time; yes, for those few joys; yes, also for the many sorrows; for the tears, for the laughs, for the anger and for the pride; for the thousands of anonymous stories written here; in short, for that hurricane of feelings that soccer is capable of provoking and that this stadium witnessed.

FAREWELLS ARE LIKE THIS

There were 10 minutes left and the game was decided. 2-0 in favor of La Máquina with goals from Cauteruccio and Mena, then the shirts and scarves came out, the chant intensified... "ole, ole, ole, ole, ola, how I love you more every day... I am celestial, how I love you more every day". The local sound system announced the attendance, 27,253 fans, and thanked the presence of the Cruz Azul supporters. The chant intensified with everyone standing. The last few minutes were meant to pay tribute to the final moments of this stadium.

Azul finally had the catharsis it never experienced with a championship on this field. On its last afternoon of soccer existence, the people gave themselves completely. They were one, the same essence, the same greatness... the final whistle blew and the story ended. Goodbye Estadio Azul.