With a lot of order, sacrifice and teamwork, Guadalajara took the lead in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, defeating América 1-0 at the Akron Stadium.
In his debut as Chivas' coach, Gerardo Espinoza presented a solid approach in defense and intense pressure in the creative zone to take the ball away from the Águilas, looking for transitions in offense to cause damage on the counter. With this formula, Chivas found the goal that gave them a partial advantage in the series and also kept a clean sheet, which contributes to the away goal criterion.
The two teams will meet again this Saturday, March 8, at the Fortaleza Rojiblanca, when they face each other on Day 11 of the Clausura 2025 of Liga MX, in the second of three editions of the Mexican Clasico in the space of eight days.
The goal
- The Akron erupted at 76'! After a great change of play by 'Piojo' Alvarado, Mateo Chávez headed back and Malagón, in his eagerness to take off, bounced the ball onto the head of Sebastián Cáceres, who sent it into the back of his net.
The dangerous ones
- Well done 'Tala'! At 27', Álvaro Fidalgo was left in front of the Rojiblanco goal, who scored from the inside before Rangel's low shot, who prevented the goal.
- At 37', Hugo Camberos shot from distance in an attempt to surprise Malagón, but an American player's leg got in the way of the ball.
- At 48', a great post play by Alan Pulido left José Castillo facing the goal, who looked for a right-footed shot, but Malagón sent the ball to the corner.
- Rangel again! At 83', the 'Tala' came up big to save his goal again, after he saved a long-range shot by Sánchez; the rebound was left to Martín in the small area, who could do nothing against the Rojiblanco goalkeeper's save.
Guadalajara 1-0 América
(Own goal by Sebastián Cáceres at 76')
Referee: Drew Fischer
Akron Stadium
Lineups
Guadalajara: 1 Raúl Rangel; 21 José Castillo, 3 Gilberto Sepúlveda (AM at 55'), 4 Miguel Tapias; 2 Alan Mozo (AM at 45+1') (11 Isaac Brizuela at 90'), 15 Erick Gutiérrez (C) (28 Rubén González at 66'), 17 Luis Romo, 50 Mateo Chávez (AM at 79'); 58 Hugo Camberos (16 Cade Cowell at 66'), 25 Roberto Alvarado (20 Fernando Beltrán at 90') and 9 Alan Pulido (14 Javier Hernández at 60').
Coach Gerardo Espinoza
América: 1 Luis Malagón; 5 Kevin Álvarez, 4 Sebastián Cáceres, 29 Ramón Juárez, 26 Cristian Borja (18 Cristian Calderón at 86'); 13 Alan Cervantes, 8 Álvaro Fidalgo (24 Javairo Dilrosun at 86'), 28 Erick Sánchez (20 Richard Sánchez at 86'); 17 Alejandro Zendejas (11 Víctor Dávila at 86'), 7 Brian Rodríguez (10 Diego Valdés at 65') and 21 Henry Martín.
Coach André Jardine
