The Akron Stadium experienced a magical night on Wednesday, as the fans' connection with the team was extraordinary. Guadalajara never stopped insisting until they got the winning goal in the first leg of the quarter-final against Toluca, and there is no doubt that good soccer and the fans' chants were the best fuel for them to never stop.
General analysis
Both Chivas and Toluca performed poorly in the first half, as they were imprecise in ball control and in many of the passes they attempted. It was evident that tension was the order of the day, so during halftime, there would be adjustments to change the dynamics of the match.
Guadalajara's second half was outstanding, as in addition to finding better ways of attacking in the final third, they were able to control the ball better and avoided, to a certain extent, counterattacks from the visiting team. There was a point in the match when Chivas was exposed after losing the ball, but the impressive work of the defense and midfielders resulted in a clean sheet.
The keys to the win
As usual, Fernando Gago was a factor in Guadalajara's victory, as he played the right keys at the right moments. He managed to modify the erratic behaviors of the first half and made timely adjustments that ended up rounding out the game plan in the final stretch of the game.
Sending Roberto Alvarado to the right flank and putting Marín up front were vital adjustments, as the opponent's defense was physically worn out and exposed in various situations, which the red and white strategist read and took advantage of with his adjustments. In addition, the entry of 'Pocho' contributed a lot with his shot, as he made good changes of direction and scored a great left-footed goal.
The most outstanding
- José Castillo: His match was a brutal display of defensive quality, as he stopped multiple attacks on his flank and was able to contain Toluca in the open field. He even saved a goal from Juan Pablo Domínguez with a providential sweep.
- Gilberto Chiquete: His quality is more than demonstrated. With the ball, he was the main outlet thanks to his aggressive driving and without the ball, he led the Red and White defense's depth.
