Chivas continued their impressive record in Estadio BBVA by defeating Monterrey by a 1-0 score. Chivas made it seven victories in Monterrey’s home stadium, having a winning record in an away venue. Chivas temporarily climbed to 2nd place, boosted by back to back victories while Monterrey remains in 7th place. Chivas will return home where they will host Atlante while Monterrey remains at home for their match against Tijuana.
The 1st half started with Chivas coming out with Bryan Alonso Gonzalez and
Richard Ledezma from the start. A good counter ended with a great pass that found Roberto Alvarado, who got off a right footed shot past Monterrey’s goalkeeper, Esteban Andrada, to give Chivas the early 1-0 lead. It was a goal against the run of play as Monterrey had more possession. Monterrey looked rattled and Chivas had two runs into the area that were wasted in the final third. A cross into the area was headed wide by Diego Rossi from close range in a bad miss. A great thru pass allowed Ricardo Chavez to get into the area where he would be pushed by Alonso Gonzalez and the referee gave a Penalty Kick to Monterrey. Lucas Ocampos took the PK but his right footed shot was brilliantly blocked by Chivas’ goalkeeper Raul Rangel. Rangel had also stopped a PK in the previous match against Monterrey in Monterrey. After getting the ball in the area, Chavez got off a low cross that turned into a shot that was well saved by Rangel. Santiago Sandoval got off a right footed shot that was saved by Andrada. Chivas started to get more counters but more importantly, Monterrey faltered after that missed PK. A cross into the area found a wide open Sandoval but he headed straight to Andrada, in an awful miss for Chivas. Rayados would counter and do the same as a cross into the area was headed from close range by Hugo Cuypers but right to Rangel. Off a corner kick, a cross into the area was headed wide by Ocampos. The halftime whistle blew and Chivas had the lead as they tried to continue their good level of play in the BBVA Stadium.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a substitution during the break. A huge rainstorm started to fall in Monterrey, hampering the teams and more importantly, the field. A cross into the area fell to Alonso Gonzalez, whose left footed shot was saved by Andrada. Monterrey subbed out Fidel Ambriz for Oliver Torres. A cross into the area was headed by a wide open Rossi but Rangel made a fantastic save. Chivas subbed out an injured Richard Ledezma for Efrain Alvarez. The rain once again continued to fall hard and the level of play once again went wodwn. Chivas subbed our Ricardo Marin and Omar Govea for Jesus Hernandez and Kevin Castañeda. A cross into the area had Sandoval whiff on the shot from close range. A ball into the area eventually fell to Diego Campillo whose right footed shot would hit the post. Monterrey subbed out Cesar Garza for Paxon Ruffin. Daniel Aguirre got off a left footed shot in the area that went to Andrada. A ball in the area fell to Ruffin but his shot was deflected wide by Chivas’ defense. Chivas subbed out Daniel Aguirre and Bryan Alonso Gonzalez for Angel Chavez and Leonel Calderon. Monterrey subbed out Jesus Corona for Luca Arellano. Arellano got off a left footed shot from outside the area that was easily saved by Rangel. Castañeda got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. After a counter, Castañeda went on a possible 1 vs 1 before being brought down by Orbelin Pineda, who would get a red card as being the last man. In the ensuing free kick, Castañeda got off a right footed shot that was saved by Andrada with some trouble. Off a 3 vs 2, the ball would fall to Hernandez, whose right footed shot was saved by Andrada, wasting a good chance. Against the run of play, a cross into the area would go thru two Chivas defenders and be back heeled pass fall to Rossi, who looked like he lobbed the ball over Rangel for a tying goal in the last minute. The referee would then go to VAR and judge that Rossi handled the ball as he scored and the goal was called off. Thus it was with great controversy that the match ended with Chivas holding off for the victory.
On the back of goalkeeper Raul Rangel, Chivas once again would get a victory over Monterrey. Chivas arrived in Monterrey and defeated ex coach Matias Almeyda although the match ended in controversy when a last minute tying goal was called off. Still Chivas got a deserved result against a Monterrey side that never got back into it after the missed PK by Ocampos. Still they had some chances but Rangel was too good on the night and thus now Monterrey’s season is in jeopardy of missing out on the Liguilla. They will have a must win match at home next week against Tijuana. Chivas will return home and host Atlante in a match they will be heavy favored to win.
