2008 Cruz Azul Home – Carlos Riveros #7 Medium

1. Season Overview – Cruz Azul 2008

The 2008 season for Cruz Azul in Mexico was split into two tournaments as per Liga MX format: the Clausura 2008 (January–May) and the Apertura 2008 (August–December).

• Clausura 2008: Cruz Azul finished mid-table in the regular season, scraping into the Liguilla (playoffs). They advanced impressively all the way to the Clausura Final, where they lost narrowly to Santos Laguna over two legs (aggregate 3–2). Despite the heartbreak, reaching the final showed the team’s resurgence under Sergio Markarián, who emphasized discipline and compact defensive play.

• Apertura 2008: The team again qualified for the Liguilla, showing consistency. Cruz Azul reached the Apertura Final as well, this time against Toluca. The final ended 2–2 on aggregate, but Cruz Azul lost in penalties, suffering back-to-back final defeats in the same calendar year.

• Continental Play: Cruz Azul also competed in the 2008 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, reaching the semifinals before being eliminated by Pachuca.

The major storyline of 2008 was Cruz Azul’s return to prominence after years of underachievement, though it was marked by frustration as “La Máquina Cementera” lost both domestic finals in dramatic fashion.

2. Player’s Impact – Carlos Riveros (2008 Season)

Carlos Riveros, the Paraguayan midfielder, played an important role for Cruz Azul in 2008. A versatile player who could operate as a central midfielder or defensive anchor, Riveros provided balance and intensity in the middle of the pitch.

• Appearances: Regularly featured across both Clausura and Apertura, with over 25 appearances in the year.

• Style of Play: Known for his ball-winning ability, tactical discipline, and simple distribution, Riveros was not the flashiest player but a consistent performer.

• Key Contributions:

  • Helped Cruz Azul maintain shape and composure in high-pressure playoff matches.

  • Played in both finals (vs. Santos Laguna and vs. Toluca), providing grit and leadership in midfield battles.

  • His work off the ball allowed more creative players like Pablo Zeballos and César Villaluz to thrive in attack.

While not a prolific goalscorer, Riveros’s contribution was essential to Cruz Azul’s midfield stability during one of the club’s most competitive modern campaigns.

3. Full Squad List – Cruz Azul 2008

Manager: Sergio Markarián

Goalkeepers:

• Óscar Pérez

• Yosgart Gutiérrez

• Guillermo Allison (youth)

Defenders:

• Joaquín Beltrán

• Julio César Domínguez

• Melvin Brown

• Horacio Cervantes

• Diego Jiménez

• Fausto Pinto

• Rogelio Chávez

• Joel Huiqui

Midfielders:

• Carlos Riveros

• Gerardo Torrado

• César Villaluz

• Alejandro Vela

• Jaime Lozano

• Edgar Andrade

• Cristian Riveros (often registered as “Riveros”)

• Manuel “Tripa” Pérez

• Israel López

Forwards:

• Pablo Zeballos

• César Delgado

• Miguel Sabah

• Nicolás Vigneri

• Javier Orozco (“Chuletita”)