A late goal gave Chivas their first victory of the Apertura 2026 by a 1-0 score over FC Juarez. Chivas was the better side from the start but their lack of accuracy up top made it seem like they would fail to get a victory at home, a week after losing at home against Toluca. Chivas will now travel south to face off their first away match of the season against Puebla while FC Juarez will hosts Pumas that same day.
The 1st half started with Chivas coming for the first time in the season with Armando
Gonzalez from the start. 10 second into the match, Jose Luis Rodriguez got off a left footed shot from outside the area that hit the post. From outside the area, Jordan Carrillo got off a right footed shot that went just wide. Off a corner kick, the ball was crossed to Oscar Estupiñan, who headed the ball wide. Off a longball, Estupiñan would get to the ball before Chivas’ goalkeeper Raul Rangel, but his lobbed shot went wide. After a better start from the visiting team, Chivas started to dominate possession but without creating danger. A cross into the area would find a wide open Bryan Alonso Gonzalez but his header went right to Juarez’s goalkeeper, Sebastian Jurado. A cross into the area fell to Alonso Gonzalez but his left footed shot hit the post. After winning the ball, Rodriguez went on a 1 vs 1 against Rangel but he got off a terrible lobbed shot that went well wide, missing a great opportunity. A cross into the area from Luis Romo was headed from close range by Gonzalez but it hit the post. A combination play ended with a right footed in the area by Carrillo but it was well saved by Jurado. The halftime whistle blew and although Chivas had been overly superior, the match remained tied.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a substitution during the break. FC Juarez started to get more possession as Chivas faltered after a good first half. Chivas subbed out Jordan Carrillo for Efrain Alvarez. Juarez subbed out Javier Aquino, Haret Ortega and Ricardinho for Francisco Nevarez, Jairo Torres and Monchu. A right footed shot in the area by Roberto Alvarado was deflected wide. Juarez subbed out Oscar Estupiñan for Luca Martinez Dupuy. The teams will trade possession but neither had created dangerous chances in a very poorly played 2nd half. Gonzalez would get the ball and go to the area, where he would get off a right footed shot that forced a save from Jurado. Chivas subbed out Richard Ledezma, Brian Gutierrez and Jose Castillo for Ricardo Marin, Kevin Castañeda and Diego Campillo. A right footed shot from outside the area by Castañeda would be easily saved by Jurado. A cross into the area was headed wide by Martinez Dupuy. FC Juarez subbed out Gilberto Sepulveda for Ricardo Juarez. A bad clearance would fall to Gonzalez in the area but Jurado blocked his shot from close range. Off a corner kick, a close range header from Alonso Gonzalez was blocked and cleared by Juarez’s defense. A right footed shot from outside the area by Martinez Dupuy would go just wide. Off a corner kick, a bad mistake by Jurado allowed Alonso Gonzalez to get a header to an almost empty net but it went wide. Chivas subbed out Bryan Alonso Gonzalez for Jonathan Perez. In the last minute of play, a cross into the area was headed by Marin to a wide open Roberto Alvarado, who volleyed in from close range past Jurado to score and give Chivas the 1-0 lead. There was no time for more as Chivas rescued an important victory in the final minute of play.
After a disappointing debut for Chivas, in which they lost at home against Toluca, the home side would bounce back with a victory. After failing to score against Toluca, Chivas’ offensive problems continued and they needed a miraculous goal to get them the three points on Saturday. Chivas will need to improve on offense but they were the better side and the victory was more than deserved. On Friday they will make their first away match when they travel to face off against Puebla. FC Juarez will try to get their first points of the season when they host Pumas.
