Chivas held on to defeat Pachuca by a 1-0 score in a match that all but guarantees them a spot in the Liguilla. Chivas basically secured 6th place and final direct spot for the Liguilla after defeating
Pachuca in a match where they overcame being left with 10 players. Chivas only needs a single point next week or even a better goal differential as they lead FC Juarez by 3 points going into the final week of the regular season. They will close out their season at home against Monterrey while Pachuca travels north to face off against Santos Laguna.
The 1st half started with Chivas coming out with an offensive lineup and the return of Javier Hernandez and Alan Mozo to the bench. A dangerous cross from Bryan Alonso Gonzalez failed to find a player in what would have been a dangerous chance had somebody gotten to it. Efrain Alvarez got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Off a free kick, the ball would end up deflected into the path of Santiago Sandoval, whose volley went wide. After a foul on Ruben Gonzalez from behind, Luis Quiñones got a red card. After going to VAR, the ref changed it to a Yellow card. After getting into the area, Armando Gonzalez would get off a right footed shot that was saved by Pachuca’s goalkeeper, Carlos Moreno. Brian Garcia got off a left footed shot from outside the area that was saved by Chivas’ goalkeeper, Raul Rangel. After getting a cross into the area, Roberto Alvarado did a good job lowering the ball but took to long to get off a shot that allowed Moreno to get the ball off his feet. Enner Valencia got off a great left footed shot from outside the area that would go just wide. A cross into the area would go just out of reach of Valencia. The halftime whistle blew as both teams traded possession in an even match.
The 2nd half started with Pachuca subbing out Israel Luna for Carlos Sanchez. Gaston Togni got off a left footed shot from outside the area that forced Rangel to make a save. A left footed shot in the area by Quiñones was blocked by defender Luis Romo. After a pass in the area, Gonzalez got past Moreno but the ball got away from him and his turn around shot hit the post. Chivas subbed out Santiago Sandoval for Richard Ledezma. After Ledezma got past a defender, he got a cross into the area that Gonzalez whiffed on, and would have been a close range chance had he gotten to it. After a cross into the area was cleared by Moreno, the ball would eventually fall Alvarez, whose shot would go wide. Pachuca subbed out Gaston Togni for Kenedy. A cross into the area was headed by Alonso Gonzalez but right to Moreno. After getting the ball outside the area, Armando Gonzalez would make a good move and get off a left footed shot past Moreno to score a great goal that gave Chivas the 1-0 lead. Pachuca subbed out Enner Valencia and Pedro Perlaza for Jhonder Cadiz and Willam Carvalho. After bringing down Kenedy, Romo would get a red card. Immediately after the great news of taking the lead, Chivas got the bad news of going down to 10 players. Chivas subbed out Roberto Alvarado and Efrain Alvarez for Gilberto Sepulveda and Erick Gutierrez. Pachuca subbed out Jorge Berlanga for Ilian Hernandez. A cross into the area was deflected which forced a save from Rangel. After getting the ball outside the area, Carvalho got off a shot that went wide. Chivas subbed out Armando Gonzalez and Omar Govea for Miguel Gomez and Teun Wilke. A cross into the area was deflected by Hernandez but easily saved by Rangel. A left footed shot from outside the area from Quiñones would go wide. A ball was failed to be cleared in the area, where it fell to Quiñones but his left footed shot went wide. Victor Guzman got off a right footed shot that went wide.
Chivas’ strong finish to the Apertura 2025 season continue with a key victory that now all but qualifies Chivas to the 6th and final spot of the Liguilla. Chivas is only a point from making it official and even if they lose, FC Juarez would have to get a victory and overcome a large goal differential to knock Chivas from that 6th place finish. This makes the victory so more important as they face off in their final Apertura 2025 game at home against Monterrey. On the other hand Pachuca are guaranteed a place in the Play In but will not go into it with much fanfare after their struggles in recent matches. They close out in the final match of the Apertura 2025 against Santos Laguna,a match that could be vital for Santos to try to get to the Play In, depending of other results.
