Liga MX is back; Chivas and Puebla stalemate to open the 2021 Clausura season
With matchday one of the much anticipated Liga MX Torneo Clausura season upon us, Chivas Guadalajara and Club Puebla open with a 1-1 draw Friday night at Estadio Cuauhtémoc.
Chivas came into this game without forwards Jose Juan Macias, after testing positive for COVID-19, and Isaac Brizuela due to injury.
Meanwhile, Puebla had three players making their debut for the club along with new head coach Nicolas Larcamon.
Chivas came out the gates firing in the first half as forward Oribe Peralta tested new Puebla goalkeeper Antony Silva with a dangerous bicycle kick in the 13th minute. Silva saved it but the momentum was with Chivas early on.
Los rojiblancos continued to press Puebla and eventually were awarded a penalty as a result. The penalty was conceded by Puebla defender Juan Pablo Segovia as he took down Chivas forward Uriel Antuna.
Midfielder Jesus Molina, not Peralta, stepped up for Chivas to take the spot kick but he missed it as he shot far left.
Chivas had an array of chances to take the lead in the first half, but it was Puebla who opened the scoring behind a bullet header from forward Santiago Ormeño.
Midfielder Javier Salas provided the cross as Ormeño gave Puebla a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Chivas, who finished with 6 shots on target, responded with a goal to tie the game within the first 2 minutes of the second half.
Defender Miguel Ponce fired in a left-footed shot from outside the box to beat Silva’s outreached arm and make it 1-1.
Chivas came to play in the second half as Puebla were limited to half baked chances throughout the second half.
However, once again Chivas were not able to capitalize on their attempts on goal. The closest Guadalajara got to taking the lead was in the 66th minute. Substitute César Huerta nearly scored a behind the back kick but Silva saved it to keep the score 1-1.
The game finished 1-1 as both sides couldn’t find the winning goal in the last minutes of play.
Chivas look to win its first game of the new season against Toluca next Saturday. Meanwhile, Larcamon and Puebla take on Cruz Azul at Estadio Azteca.
