Cruz Azul vs. America Final 2013: Players to Watch in Liga MX Clausura 2nd Leg

Cruz Azul might be only 90 minutes away from a Liga MX Clausura title.

By virtue of a 1-0 win over Club America in the first leg, Cruz Azul has the advantage as it travels to the Estadio Azteca to secure the title. Despite that lead, it's going to be an uphill battle, as America will be playing at home and has more than enough talent to erase a one-goal deficit.

The first leg was a good match, but the second should provide even more entertainment. America won't be holding anything back, and Cruz Azul will likely hunker down to protect its lead.

With the match kicking off this Sunday, here are two stars from each team to focus on in the second leg.

Cruz Azul

Jose de Jesus Corona

Jose de Jesus Corona continued to be a dependable keeper by holding Club America to a clean sheet in the first leg. Although America's attack wasn't deadly the entire match, Corona did well to make Christian Gimenez's goal the difference.

If Cruz Azul is going to get a similar result in the second leg, Corona will have to be even better.

America will be returning to the friendly confines of the Estadio Azteca. A one-goal lead doesn't sound anywhere near as comfortable as it would under other circumstances.

You can expect America to get out in the attack quite often, so Corona will need to make key stops. World football fans often say that goalkeepers can't win matches alone, but Corona's performance will go a long way in determining the outcome of the second leg.

Christian Gimenez

Christian Gimenez was the lone goalscorer in the first leg. He has been Cruz Azul's best attacking threat across both the Clausura and Apertura. Gimenez is second on the club in goals (eight) and assists (five).

As the central attacking midfielder, Gimenez can help to set the pace of the match. Cruz Azul only had 41 percent of possession in the first leg, and it's realistic to expect that percentage to remain the same or possibly drop in the second leg.

If Cruz Azul wants to get an all-important second goal, it will need to make the most of its opportunities on the counter.

Gimenez will be a big part of that because his passing can set his teammates up to score, or he can look to score by himself.

Club America

Christian Benitez

If Club America's attack is to improve in the second leg, it will need more from Christian Benitez. It's great to have 25 shots, but it's not so great to only get six on target. That's just being wasteful in the attack.

Benitez didn't have the kind of performance you would have expected of him. He scored 11 goals in 16 Liga MX Apertura matches and five goals in as many Clausura matches. He carried over this form from last season, when he scored 22 goals in 32 Liga MX matches.

Fans whose only images of Benitez are from his time with Birmingham City in the Premier League have missed what he's done in Mexico. He continues to be a skilled striker who is always a threat in the attack.

If America wants to overturn the one-goal deficit, Benitez will need to step up.

Rubens Sambueza

If Benitez is having problems creating opportunities through the middle, America can rely on winger Rubens Sambueza to provide a threat out wide.

Sambueza leads America in assists, with nine across the Apertura and Clausura. He's also added two goals, which tie him for third on the club.

It's always good to have players like Sambueza who can offer much-needed width. He can play on either wing, but he prefers the right. He's also skilled enough to create or score, depending on what the situation calls for.