Chivas demolished a terribly weak Puebla in route to a 5-0 victory. Chivas maintained their first place in the standings after totally dominating a very weak Puebla, who showed some attacks but were clearly the inferior side. Chivas bounced back after their humbling loss against Tigres in Monterrey on Saturday but will need to do so against better sides than Puebla. Chivas will now travel north to face off against Necaxa while Puebla will face off away against a Monterrey side in crisis.
The 1st half
started with Chivas coming out with an offensive lineup that had Ricardo Marin and Armando Gonzalez up top. Alejandro Organista made a good play in the area and got off a right footed shot that went just wide. A cross into the area was cleared by Puebla’s goalkeeper, Ricardo Gutierrez, would clear it just before Marin could have a close range header. Puebla subbed out injured Kevin Velasco for Owen Gonzalez. After getting the ball in the area, Bryan Alonso Gonzalez got off a great lobbed shot over Gutierrez and into the net to score a great goal that gave Chivas the 1-0 lead. Luis Romo got off a right footed shot from outside the area that Gutierrez easily handled. Off a counter, a cross into the area was slightly deflected by Chivas’ goalkeeper, Raul Rangel, making Alexis Canelo whiff on a empty net chance in a bad miss. Chivas would have a counter but Brian Gutierrez got off a right footed shot that went wide. A good cross by Brian Gutierrez into the area found a wide open Ricardo Marin, who easily headed the ball past Gutierrez to score and give Chivas the 2-0 lead. Chivas was easily dominating Puebla and had a deserved lead. Off a free kick, Efrain Alvarez got off a good left footed shot that went just wide. Off another free kick, Alvarez once again got off a left footed shot that was saved by Gutierrez although the referee judged it to have gone wide. Off a counter, a cross into the area was just out of reach of Gonzalez. The halftime whistle blew as Chivas took a solid deserved lead to the break.
The 2nd half started with Puebla subbing out Alexis Canelo for Ariel Gamarra. A cross into the area would be left there for Gonzalez but Brian Gutierrez got to the ball and got off a left footed shot past Gutierrez, to score and give Chivas the 3-0 lead. Gonzalez got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Chivas subbed out Ricardo Marin for Santiago Sandoval. Puebla subbed out Iker Moreno and Alejandro Orgenista for Luis Rey and Esteban Lozano. A cross into the area was cleared by Gutierrez just before Gonzalez could get a close range chance. Chivas subbed out Brian Gutierrez for Ruben Gonzalez. From way outside the area, Lozano got off a right footed shot that Rangel saved. Chivas subbed out Jose Castillo, Roberto Alvarado and Efrain Alvarez for Hugo Camberos, Yael Padilla and Jonathan Perez. Puebla subbed out Eduardo Navarro for Bryan Garnica. A cross into the area was volleyed by Daniel Aguirre but it went right to Gutierrez. Padilla got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. A cross into the area was deflected into the path of Bryan Alonso Gonzalez,, who got into the area and then got a great left footed shot past Gutierrez to score and give Chivas the 4-0 lead. A great pass found Hugo Camberos, who got off a great right footed shot to score and give Chivas the 5-0 lead. In two minutes, Chivas had turned the match into a goal fest. A cross into the area was volleyed wide by Alonso Gonzalez.
After their terrible 4-1 loss last Saturday against Tigres, Chivas needed to bounce back and did so in grand style. Chivas gave another beating against a Puebla side that was awful from the first minute of play. Chivas settles their position in first place although they still have clubs near them but another victory would guarantee a first place finish. That being said, critics will point out that this shows another crushing victory by Chivas against a poor side, but that they failed to repeat those performances against the better teams. If the liguilla started today, Chivas would face off against Tigres, the side that crushed them last Saturday and not a team like Puebla. Still right now Chivas is the best side in Liga MX and their record is deserved. They will have a tougher task on Wednesday when they travel to face off against Necaxa. On the other hand Puebla will face off against a struggling Monterrey, but they still should be favored to lose again.
