Guadalajara gave one of those performances that will be remembered by their fans for a long time, they stood with authority and held their fierce rivals at bay to defeat them 1-3 (2-3 on aggregate) Sunday night at the Azteca Stadium, thus moving them into the Grand Final of the Clausura 2023.
Veljko Paunovic won the tactical game against Fernando Ortiz, as the Rebaño's coach surprised him with several adjustments with respect to the first leg and then, at the start of the second half, he was bold enough to launch the Rebaño forward in search of the goals that allowed them to achieve the feat.
The goals
- The Rebaño Sagrado opened the scoring at 18', when 'Piojo' Alvarado came out with a controlled ball from midfield, cut back towards the center leaving 4 rivals in his path, then put a pass between the lines that put Ronaldo Cisneros in front of the goal, who beat Malagón in the dive and sent the ball into the net, despite the attempt by Cáceres, who came close to stopping the goal with a sweep.
- The locals equalized at 56' with a cross by Fidalgo that Valdés headed and sent into the net, despite the save by 'Wacho', who could do nothing to stop the ball.
- Chivas regained the lead at 75' in a prefabricated play, Alexis took a free kick to Alan Mozo in the half-moon area and from there he shot a low shot that was impossible to save.
- Guadalajara achieved the feat at 88' when 'Nene' Beltrán crossed the ball as if by hand and 'Chiquete' appeared surprisingly in the opponent's area to send the ball into the back of the net.
Dangerous chances
- At minute 6, Alejandro Zendejas took a shot from the edge of the area, but it went over the goal.
- At 37', 'Pollo' Briseño cut a cross into the six-yard box that Henry Martín had already tasted of pushing into the goal.
- At 40', Alexis Vega tried his luck on a free kick from the left corner of the area, but the ball went high.
- At 51', 'Wacho' controlled a long-distance shot by Richard Sánchez.
- At 60', 'Cone' Brizuela took a powerful shot inside the area, but Malagón cleared the ball off the base of the right post.
- At 68', Ronaldo had given Chivas the lead back, but the referee went to the VAR to review the previous play and disallowed the goal due to an alleged foul by 'Pocho' on Layún.
- At 82', Alexis put in a cross to the far post that 'Cone' connected with, but crossed his header too far.
- At 87', Mozo put in a long cross that Mayorga headed into the goalkeeper's hands.
América 1-3 Guadaalajara
(Diego Valdés at 56')
(Roberto Alvarado at 18', Alan Mozo at 75', Gilberto Orozco at 88')
Referee: Víctor Alfonso Cáceres Hernández
Azteca Stadium
Alienations:
América: 33 Héctor Malagón (AM at 71'), 19 Miguel Layún, 3 Israel Reyes (AM at 39'), 4 Sebastián Cáceres, 2 Luis Fuentes, 17 Alejandro Zendejas (AM at 40') (26 Salvador Reyes at 78'), 20 Richard Sánchez (5 Pedro Aquino at 65'), 8 Álvaro Fidalgo (EXP at 62'), 10 Diego Valdés (23 Emilio Lara at 78'), 11 Jonathan Rodríguez and 21 Henry Martín (9 Roger Martínez at 85').
Coach Fernando Ortiz.
Guadalajara: 23 Miguel Jiménez, 24 Carlos Cisneros (11 Isaac Brizuela at 52'), 3 Gilberto Sepúlveda (AM at 26'), 4 Antonio Briseño (AM at 3'), 13 Gilberto Orozco, 28 Rubén González (AM at 21')(2 Alan Mozo at 45'), 20 Fernando Beltrán (AM at 90'), 5 Víctor Guzmán, 25 Roberto Alvarado (19 Alejandro Mayorga at 85'), 10 Alexis Vega (6 Pável Pérez at 85') and 18 Ronaldo Cisneros (9 Daniel Ríos at 85').
Coach Veljko Paunovic.
ESTAMOS EN LA FINAL.
ESTAMOS EN LA FINAL.
ESTAMOS EN LA FINAL.
ESTAMOS EN LA FINAL.
