Cruz Azul got a very important away victory after defeating Chivas in Guadalajara by a 2-1 score. Once again Chivas dominated possession and might have deserved better but had no punch at all and were able to be handled by Cruz Azul’s defense in route to the three points. Chivas will now travel to the United States to face Leon in the FIFA break before returning to action with the biggest match in Liga MX regular season, the Superclasico against America. Cruz Azul will return to action after the FIFA break by facing
off against Pachuca.
The 1st half started with both teams coming out with close their best starting 11. The most notable news was in the bench where Javier Hernandez returned to it after being injured prior to this match. A minute into the match from just outside the area, Jose Paradela got off a left footed shot that went past Chivas’ goalkeeper, Raul Rangel to score and give Cruz Azul the 1-0 lead. It was the first chance of the whole match and the visiting team already had the lead. After losing the ball, Chivas had a great counter attack opportunity with a 2 vs 3 but Armando Gonzalez gave a no look pass right to a Cruz Azul player in the final third. After once again winning a ball, Roberto Alvarado would get off a great left footed shot from outside the area but Cruz Azul’s goalkeeper, Kevin Mier, made a great save. In the upcoming corner kick, the cross was headed back by Miguel Tapias into the path of Diego Campillo, whose close range header went past Mier and into the net to score and tie the match at 1-1. Off a counter, a longball had a possible 1 vs 1 but instead, Angel Sepulveda felled down trying to get with a possible muscle injury. He had to be subbed out and Gabriel Fernandez was subbed in his place. A cross into the area found a wide open Gonzalez but his header bounced off Mier in a bad miss from the forward. A longball into the area was won by Fernandez, who bumped Gilberto Sepulveda and then easily went past Tapias before getting off a right footed shot past Rangel. In a controversial play, after going to VAR the ref would call off a goal for a foul on Sepulveda. A minute later, Bryan Gonzalez was dropped by a push from Carlos Rodriguez and the referee gave a Penalty Kick to Chivas in another controversial decision. After going to VAR, the referee would call it off. Paradela got off a left footed shot from outside the area that Rangel easily saved. After getting the ball in the area, Efrain Alvarez made a great dribbling play to get past Willer Ditta but his left footed shot was saved by Mier. After Chivas couldn’t clear out a ball, Carlos Rotondi got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went past Rangel to score and give Cruz Azul the 2-1 lead. From outside the area, Alvarez got off a left footed shot that went just wide. The halftime whistle blew and Cruz Azul took their one goal lead to the dressing rooms.
The 2nd half started with Cruz Azul subbing out Carlos Rodriguez for Luka Romero. On a 2 vs 1, a cross from Ignacio Rivero was deflected by Fernandez and turned into a shot that went just wide. After getting the ball in the area, Santiago Sandoval got off a left footed shot that went wide. From outside the area, Luis Romo got off a right footed shot that forced Mier to make a save with some trouble. Rivero got into the area on a 1 vs 1 but his shot was saved by Rangel and it was also called offside. Cruz Azul subbed out Jose Paradela and Ignacio Rivero for Mateusz Bogusz and Lorenzo Faravelli. Off a corner kick, Bryan Gonzalez had a free header but sent it wide. Chivas subbed out Miguel Tapias (who had a very bad match) and Diego Campillo for Cade Cowell and Miguel Gomez. A cross into the area was missed by Gonzalez in his header as well as Sandoval. Chivas subbed out Santiago Sandoval for Javier Hernandez, making his 2025 Apertura. A right footed shot from outside the area from Bogusz was easily saved by Rangel. A cross into the area was lowered by Hernandez, who made a left footed shot after a turn that went wide. A cross into the area found Gomez, whose shot was deflected by Erik Lira and hit the post only to fall to Gonzalez, who volleyed it wide when he had an open net in a bad miss. Chivas subbed out Roberto Alvarado and Efrain Alvarez for Hugo Camberos and Yael Padilla. A cross into the area was headed by Camberos but it went right to Mier. A shot from Cowell in the area went wide. Cruz Azul subbed out Carlos Rotondi for Omar Campos. Incredibly with Chivas needing a goal, Cruz Azul came close with a counter that ended with Fernandez getting a shot that went right to Rangel. Chivas tried to get that goal but couldn’t create anything and Cruz Azul wasn’t really troubled and were able to get the victory.
Cruz Azul had a very good victory as they have improved a lot under coach Nicolas Larcamon after their embarrassing performance in the Leagues Cup. After that terrible 7-0 loss against Seattle Sounders, they had steadily improved although not have been playing that spectacular. With a solid defense, Cruz Azul was able to hold well against Chivas possession. While Chivas had most of the possession, once again they failed to get the result and they continue to lack a lot of offensive creativity. While there were a couple of bad misses by Armando Gonzalez, overall they failed to create much chances for all their possession. The offense is entirely predictable and they keep struggling on defense especially with the centerbacks. With the extremely tough Superclasico coming up when they return to Liga MX action after the FIFA break, they will need to work things out in that friendly against Leon because otherwise they will have another bad result against America.
