The Leader Visited the House of the Second-to-Last General
The result was far from football logic. America has not lost in the entire tournament, and Chivas has not won since round three, but as it is an exact science, neither the first nor the second can be explained. Coapa's team was a reactive team and Chivas was an active team, with purpose, arrival, and courage, but without accuracy.
The 'Rebaño' and their history from the past year, reach six or seven chances and barely score one goal, while America managed to equalize with a blink of Alanís' eye, when the locals were getting ahead.
In a match full of emotions and high tension, where the stadium was packed, the classic ended in a draw once again.
Chivas 1, America 1.
Goalkeeper duel in Zapopan. By minute 18, goalkeepers were already decisive in the result. The 'Rebaño' had three shots, and all three were saved by Marchesín with accuracy, the most difficult one being from Alan Pulido, but the Argentine dove to his left. America had two shots, one angled shot that Cota sent for a corner kick, and in the next play a header by Bruno Valdez hit the crossbar. The match was off to a lively start.
The score opened incredibly. 'Chofis' López won a ball in the air and left 'Chuy' Godinez one-on-one with the goalkeeper, the striker let the ball in and scored with the inside of his left foot, defeating Marchesín. Chivas' youngest player opened the scoring in the most important match of the year. Godínez defined with great technique, and the Guadalajara team took the lead in this match.
Chivas and their eternal defensive problems, as they could not even maintain the advantage for five minutes.
Renato came in from the right and enabled Oribe Peralta, who took advantage of Alanís' complicity, who provided him with all the comforts to receive the ball, turned around, and before Rodolfo Cota's exit, he equalized the score. Equality in the score and defensive fragility of the 'Rebaño Sagrado'.
But Almeyda's team continued attacking and found a chance to regain the advantage, Pulido assisted 'Chofis', who had time to settle and cross the ball to Marchesín, but the left-footer hit it on first touch and missed a clear goal, 'Chofis' missed a certain goal.
After 'Chofis' missed, America had two chances, but in both, Rodolfo Cota turned into a hero. Ménez had two opportunities, one was saved by the goalkeeper, and in the other, he took advantage of a mistake by Orbelín, who lost the ball on the way out, and Cota stood tall against the Frenchman.
The problems were significant for the 'Rebaño', as Oribe Peralta won all the duels against the Guadalajara defenders, neither Alanís nor Salcido could stop the striker, and if Coapa's team did not go into halftime winning, it was thanks to Rodolfo Cota, who stood tall.
The second half followed the same pattern, with Chivas attacking and America looking for a mistake to cause damage. In the 54th minute, Ibarra stole the ball and headed towards Cota's area, and seeing Oribe in a better position, he gave him the ball with a through pass, the Laguna native finished over Cota, and the ball went just centimeters over the Chivas crossbar, the goal scream was silenced.
By the way, Ménez in the second half was tightly marked, Michael Pérez always took care of the Frenchman in an attempt to prevent him from taking the ball with his pace, as he did in the first half. The match fell into a slump, and it seemed like both teams were satisfied with the draw.
Chivas sent Brizuela onto the field, and in the initial plays, he managed to create danger, but then he faded away. With América, Ménez was becoming less influential and was substituted by Joe Corona, to play with two fixed holding midfielders and bet everything on a through ball from Renato or a spark from Peralta or Cecilio Domínguez.
SRN