Mexico City.- Right from kick-off neither team held back and showed their intentions to win the game, first in minute 2 ‘JJ’ showed his willingness with a great solo play that could not be finished by any of his teammates. As time passed by, América settled better on the field and got ball control causing Raúl Gudiño to save spectacularly a Benedetti header in minute 6.
It did not take long for ‘El Chiverío’ to answer back as in the 12th minute Macías received a gorgeous through-ball entering the 6-yard box and shot straight to Ochoa’s body. Three minutes later, ‘Chicote’ lobbed a precise ball to José Juan Macías whose header could not find the back of the net. In the 26th minute, America got on the scoreboard with a mid-range shot by Dos Santos. Guadalajara tried hard although were not able to find clear chances; nonetheless, in minute 36 the home team could have doubled their lead but Cristian Calderón blocked Benedetti’s shot. By the end of the FH, in minute 40 Chivas’ best chance derived from a corner kick that found an open ‘Chicote’ but Ochoa saved his goal miraculously.
The second half began and anxiety took over Chivas, full of inaccuracy in their passing while America intensified their pace. In the 48th minute, Hiram Mier with a timely sliding tackle blocked Martin’s shot aimed at directly Chivas’ goal, then in minute 60, Suárez unleashed a left-footed rocket that almost went in the far post of Gudiño’s goal.
Consequently, Víctor Vucetich changed tactics & pieces with three substitutions in one sitting. Antuna continued to be the most incisive player and despite that, in the 70th, the home team could have doubled their lead but the goal was overturned as the referee ruled that Martin fouled ‘Pocho’ Ponce inside the box.
In stoppage time, Oribe Peralta almost pulled one back for ‘El Rebaño’ with a left-footed shot, sadly the ball did not find the back of the net. Next Saturday at 5:00 pm CT, Chivas will face Mazatlán at Estadio Akron during Matchweek 12 of Guard1anes 2020.
América 1-0 Guadalajara
(Giovani dos Santos 26’)
Referee: Fernando Hernández Gómez
Estadio Azteca
Line ups:
América: 13 Guillermo Ochoa, 4 Sebastián Cáceres, 19 Emanuel Aguilera (192 Ramón Juárez 46’) (YC 90’), 2 Luis Fuentes, 3 Jorge Sánchez, 7 Leonardo Suárez (9 Roger Martínez 79’), 20 Richard Sánchez (YC 87’), 14 Nicolás Benedetti (YC 55’) (5 Santiago Cáseres 67’), 17 Sebastián Córdova, 10 Giovani dos Santos (23 Jesús López 67’) and 21 Henry Martín (8 Alonso Escoboza 87’).
Coach. Miguel Herrera
Guadalajara: 1 Raúl Gudiño, 17 Jesús Sánchez (YC 29’) (16 Miguel Ponce 59’) (YC 64’), 21 Hiram Mier, 3 Gilberto Sepúlveda (YC 4’), 26 Cristian Calderón (10 Eduardo López 59’), 5 Jesús Molina (YC 22’) (23 José Juan Vázquez 59’), 6 Dieter Villalpando (19 Jesús Angulo 76’), 11 Isaac Brizuela, 15 Uriel Antuna, 7 Alexis Vega (24 Oribe Peralta 83’) and 9 José Juan Macías.
Coach. Víctor Manuel Vucetich
