Aerial Chavarin scores a hat trick as Cruz Azul thrashes Atlas 4-0

Erendira Palma Hernández

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, July 20, 2025, p. a11

The arrival of Deneisha Blackwood and Aerial Chavarin, who shined yesterday with a hat trick, to Cruz Azul has been a success. Both have become the driving force behind the club, as demonstrated by their 4-0 win over Atlas and their first victory in the 2025 Liga MX Femenil Apertura tournament, a celebration they enjoyed at home.

The match also goes down as the first in tournament history to end five minutes before the scheduled time due to referee Priscila Pérez Borja considering the risk of a possible thunderstorm, as a couple of lightning bolts struck near the La Noria facilities.

Under the command of Diego Testas, the Celestes appear to be bouncing back after losing to América on the opening day of the season. They emerged victorious on Matchday 2 to earn their first three points, while the Guadalajara side took one.

Since last season, when they left Pumas to join Cruz Azul, Blackwood and Chavarin had already shown signs of their strong understanding of the game together. They had been stars with the felines, and the task was to replicate that potential with La Máquina.

The duel against Atlas was a test of confidence for the Celestes, who after losing to the Eagles now showed more risk in their offense.

However, they also made mistakes in both attack and defense. They even committed a handball, and Atlas sparked the first tense moment when their captain, Jaquelín García (25), failed to award a penalty.

La Máquina wouldn't allow any more scares and almost immediately turned the scoreboard. Attacks to reach the goal had been blocked by the red-and-black defense, so Aerial took a risk with a new strategy, unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the box and scoring the first goal in the 31st minute. It was a stunning goal that the fans celebrated, as it relieved the anxiety caused by the previous errors.

A team move would then follow to increase the score. Guatemala's Ana Martínez outplayed her opponent on the left flank and found the perfect moment to send a cross to Jamaica's Blackwood (43), who only tapped the ball in to hit the net.

Aerial celebrated a second goal in the 65th minute amid controversy, sending a shot off the crossbar, leaving the score in doubt for a couple of seconds until the referee recognized it as a goal. The striker then connected with a header in the 76th minute to close out the game.

Both are very important players. Deneisha is more about building, while Aerial is more about finishing. It will be important for the team to support them. "Today it was important to get the points at home ," Testas noted.

At Nemesio Diez Stadium, Toluca, coached by Frenchman Patrice Lair, also celebrated their first victory in the tournament by beating Santos 1-0. The Scarlets won with a goal from American Michaela Abam (30) to reach four points, while the Guerreras only have one point.

Expectations for Toluca have been high this season following the arrival of Lair, who won two European Champions League titles with Olympique Lyonnais, and the signing of French striker Eugénie Le Sommer.