Chivas shocks Las Aguilas in El Azteca, headed to Semifinals
We had one amazing matchup tonight as Chivas managed to beat America 1-2 and 1-3 in the aggregate as they moved on to the semifinals. They shocked the team in third place in the table and were expected to win this series. Not only that, they did so spectacularly. Let’s break down tonight’s matchup.
Chivas hits strikes in the first 45
You had to see it to believe it. A fast-paced and exciting first half was what the fans got a chance to witness in the second leg of El Clasico Nacional. Chivas made some key defensive plays to prevent America from getting into the box and create danger early. They took advantage of counterattacks to get on America’s part of the field. With both teams having split two shots on target, it was evident both teams wanted to score. The away team cut a play in the midfield at the 31st minute and took the ball all the way to the outside of the box, where Oribe Peralta found an open Cristian Calderón, who scored an absolute bullet to the top left corner. Leaving Memo Ochoa defenseless, unable to stop the ball. The score was then one-nil in favor of the visitors.
Miguel Herrera created a tactical modification at the 41st minute of the match as he subbed out Richard Sanchez and brought in Nicolás Benedetti. This change was made to create more momentum in the attack as Las Aguilas fell in the aggregate 2-0. Just before the whistle blew to finish the first half, Hiram Mier was shown the yellow card for a bad foul that the VAR had to review, and Chivas saved themselves from going down a man.
Christian Calderón Man of the Match
As Las Aguilas took shot after shot for 27 minutes, they could not score. Shots missed, shots blocked, and Raul Gudiño holding on to the ball for dear life, avoiding it to go in the goal. As you thought things were calming down, Guadalajara said not today and went on to score. Christian Calderón once again at the 72nd minute with an assist from Uriel Antuna following a fast break. Calderón was subbed out at the 81st-minute, and the match having scored all three goals to help eliminate America from playoffs.
Not long after, America finally got on the board with a goal from Henry martin at the 75th minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the top right corner making the score 2-1. Still needing three goals to win, the final whistle blew, and America was eliminated from playoffs, and Chivas moves on and will have to wait until Sunday’s matchups to see who they will face in Semifinals 2020 Guardianes.
