Chivas Guadalajara vs Cruz Azul summary: score, stats and highlights | Liga MX Clausura
Chivas Guadalajara vs Cruz Azul: As it happened
Chivas Guadalajara 2-1 Cruz Azul
Chivas reaffirmed their title ambitions with an impressive come-from-behind victory against Cruz Azul.
Los Rojiblancos came into the game with a shockingly bad record in this fixture having failed to beat Cruz Azul in the Akron Stadium since 2016. They got off to a bad start once again on Saturday evening, going behind to a neatly worked Uriel Antuna goal shortly before the break.
The home side responded well at the start of the second half and came out of the blocks fast, forcing two saves from Corona in the Cruz Azul goal. But it was captain 'Pocho' Guzman who levelled the scores, firing home from the edge of the box.
It took a bit of time for Chivas to take the lead but with 15 minutes to go substitute Cisneros pounced on a fumble from Corona to stab home from close range.
Tempers flared towards the end with a flurry of bookings, two of which were awarded to Ramiro Funes Mori. The Cruz Azul centre back was dismissed deep into injury time as Chivas held on to pick up an important three points.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/U6ZFV4XYGZHMDKO7GUY3UBBZCQ.jpg)
Hungry for more Liga MX action? Paul Reidy brings live coverage from Club America vs Pumas in another crucial Clausura fixture.
More than 33k in attendance at the Akron Stadium
Despite going behind in the first half, Chivas fans were in fine voice this evening to power their side to an important 2-1 victory. This win leaves them in second place in the Liga MX Clausura table with just one game remaining, securing them a spot in the top four automatic positions.
They will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming playoffs.
Chivas celebrate famous win
For the first time since 2016, Chivas have beaten Cruz Azul at the Akron Stadium! Two second half goals from Guzman and substitute Cisneros secured a comeback win for Los Rojiblancos!
Full time!
And that's that, an impressive win for Chivas who had to fight back after conceding in the first half. That result moves them up to second in the league, although Club America are yet to play.
Funes Mori sees red!
Just minutes after picking up his first booking, Funes Mori gets his second for an aerial challenge just outside the Chivas box.
It looked a bit soft in all honesty, but the former Everton man was not looking at the ball when he made the challenge.
Free kick on the halfway line for Cruz Azul, a last chance to get the ball in the box
Cruz Azul are continuing to push but Chivas are standing strong, reducing the visitors to long and rather hopeful balls into the box.
A misplaced pass trickles out of play for a Chivas goal kick, not long to go now...
Six minutes of added time!
Can the visitors grab a late equaliser?
Lotti has a pop from range for Cruz Azul and it's deflected wide for a corner, but it comes to nothing
Remiro Funes Mori (Cruz Azul)
The defender goes into the book for a sneaky knee on Mozo, who was shielding the ball near to the corner flag.
Tempers flare!
It's all kicking off now after a coming together in the box between Antuna in the Chivas box. The Cruz Azul forward went down clutching his face calling for a penalty, Briseno disagreed and the two squared up inside the six-yard box.
The referee steps in to cool things down and gives Briseno a booking for his troubles.
Cisneros (Chivas)
The substitute flies in to block a Corona clearance but only succeeds in accidentally clipping the keeper. Clear booking for the Chivas goalscorer.
Mozo (Chivas)
The Chivas right back picks up a booking for a wild tackle just outside the box. Cruz Azul have an opportunity to deliver from a good crossing position but nothing comes of the set piece.
We're into the final ten minutes now...
Chivas captain and goalscorer 'Pocho' Guzman departs the field after a strong showing for Los Rojiblancos. He struggled slightly to impose himself in the first half but got on the ball much more frequently after the breaking, taking the opportunity to push further forward.
His strike from the edge of the box set the second half comeback into motion.
Chivas changes
ON: Flores, Mier
OFF: Guzman, Beltran
The Cruz Azul stopper must take the blame for that goal. Chivas right back Mozo let fly from the edge of the box but his drilled shot could easily have been pushed over the crossbar by Corona.
But the Cruz Azul No. 1 tried to keep hold of the shot. All he succeeded in doing was dropping the ball at the feet of Cisneros who gleefully prodded home. Home to be done in the final 15 minutes for Cruz Azul to get anything out of this.
GOOOOOAALLL! Chivas
The hosts are into the lead, substitute Ronaldo Cisneros taking advantage of some sloppy goalkeeping from Corona.
What was he thinking?!
The tempo has definitely risen with the introduction of those five substitutions and the noise inside the Akron Stadium has done the same.
Chivas are still having the best of the play but sweeping ball forward from Cruz Azul finds Lotti in space on the right wing. His cross is diverted out of play for a corner. Funes Muri connects well with the corner but can't hit the target.
Chivas changes
ON: Brizuela and Torres
OFF: Cisneros and González
Cruz Azul changes
ON: Lotti, Rafa and Rodo
OFF: Tabó, Erik and Ivan
Chance! Chivas
The hosts come close again with a clear chance for Guzman, met by a fine save by Corona in the Cruz Azul goal.
Cruz Azul have managed to ease the pressure and are getting a bit of a foothold in the game once again. But that equaliser has certainly rallied the home fans and there's an electric atmosphere in the Akron Stadium as we reach the hour mark.
The visitors, perhaps sensing a need for fresh impetus, are preparing a triple change...
Close! Chivas
What a start to the half from the hosts! Another Chivas attack finds left back Christian Calderon in space on the edge of the box and he lets fly with a dipping volley that clips the top of Corona's cross bar.
Can Chivas make this early pressure count with a second goal?
GOOOAALLL! Chivas
That early pressure has told and it's Victor Guzman who fires home from the edge of the box to level the game. A great strike from the Chivas captain, what a game we have now!
Chivas have come out of the blocks fast this half and managed to fashion a couple of decent half chances within the opening five minutes. 'Pocho' Guzman swivels in the box but his shot is blocked by a recovering Cruz Azul defender.
This is much more like it from Veljko Paunovic's side.
And we're underway for the second half...
Can Chivas wrestle their way back into the match or will Cruz Azul continue their brilliant record at the Akron Stadium?
Ronaldo Cisneros / Pavel Perez
It's an attacking change for the hosts; a forward replacing a midfielder.
Antuna's strike gives La Maquina the lead
There were half chances for both sides during a very entertaining first 45 minutes at the Akron Stadium, but the one passage of real quality came just before the half as the visitors took the lead.
Uriel Antuna scored in last week's defeat to America and he was on the scoresheet again in Guadalajara with a neatly taken goal. Jimenez's positioning in the Chivas goal could probably have been better but the pace of the Mexican's run and the quality of the finish made it difficult to stop.
Half time!
A brilliant half for the visitors who go in with a well-deserved first half lead. Not much to choose between the teams in the opening 45 but Cruz Azul have enjoyed the best chances of the game so far.
Improvement needed from Chivas...
Chance! Cruz Azul
Far from sitting back, Cruz Azul have a decent chance to double their lead before the break! Morales breaks forward but his effort is a little rushed and he scoops it wide of the Chivas goal.
That'll be it for the half
Chance! Cruz Azul
Far from sitting back, Cruz Azul have a decent chance to double their lead before the break! Morales breaks forward but his effort is a little rushed and he scoops it wide of the Chivas goal.
That'll be it for the half
Two minutes of additional time signalled
Not long to go in the first half in the Akron Stadium. Is there time for one last chance for Chivas?
We're into the final minutes of the first half here and Chivas seem a little shocked by that Cruz Azul goal. The visitors will be desperate to get to the half with their lead entact and are managing to slow the game down fairly successfully.
Cruz Azul take the lead in Guadalajara with a brilliantly worked move. Rodriguez picked up the ball on the right flank and appeared to be going nowhere until a crafty nutmeg allowed him to shift inside and push forward.
Uriel Atuna, starting out wide on the right wing, made an incisive run behind Chivas left back Calderon and found himself in on goal. From a tight angle the Mexican international slid the ball past Jimenez at the near post .
Lovely stuff from La Maquina!
GOALLLLL! Cruz Azul
It's the visitors who make the break through with a slick attacking move, finished coolly by Antuna!
A bit of thrust from the hosts now with two efforts on goal in a the space of a few seconds. First Beltran pinches the ball in the middle of the Cruz Azul half and drives forward, his shot blocked by a blue shirt.
The ball is then recycled to 'Poncho' Guzman but his wild shot from distance flies high over the crossbar.
As we reach the half hour mark in the Akron Stadium, both sides have carved out decent opening without managing a clear chance. Cruz Azul will probably be happier with the opening 30 minutes, considering that they are the away side, and have looked confident in possession.
Chance! Cruz Azul
It's end-to-end stuff in Guadalajara as Jimenez is called upon again in the Chivas goal. He tips over a goal-bound Rodriguez header for a corner and then makes comfortable save from Funes Mori to keep the scores level.
The hosts are enjoying the lion's share of the ball here but the visitors look just as dangerous in an attacking sense.
Chance! Cruz Azul
The free kick from wide is flicked on by a Cruz Azul head and drops to Morales around the penalty box. The forward is a little off balance and his hurried shot deflects off a Chivas defender for a corner.
The hosts clear the resultant corner kick but that will give the visitors confidence.
Pavel Perez (Chivas)
The Chivas No. 6 goes into the book for a late challenge. Good chance to deliver from wide for Cruz Azul now...
There's plenty of space in the middle, even at this early stage, and both sides look dangerous on the counter attack. A square ball from Calderon finds Perez arriving late on the edge of the box but he fires wide from 20 yards.
Chivas' runners from midfield are causing problems.
Chance! Chivas
A lovely nutmeg from Vega in the middle of the pitch opens up space for a Chivas attacking, setting Cisneros free on the right hand side. He runs at the retreating Cruz Azul backline and fires low and hard at goal, but Corona is equal to the effort and makes a comfortable save.
Nice play from the hosts as Vega brings down a high ball and turns to run at the Cruz Azul defence. Some neat interplay finds Gonzalez in space on the left of the box but his lofted cross is too high for his teammates and goes out of play for a goal kick.
Pretty even start in Guadalajara.
Chance! Cruz Azul
Nearly an absolute calamity at the back for the hosts! Briseno does well to claim the ball but his weak back pass nearly gives Morales an early sight at goal, but goalkeeper Jimenez saves his blushes with a sliding clearance.
What a start that could have been!
And we're off!
Chivas get us started in Guadalajara with a long ball forward to Alexis Vega. Can the Rojiblancos' No. 10 be the main man tonight?
We're nearly ready for kick-off in Guadalajara, both sides are now out on the pitch in front of an expectant home crowd.
Chivas in their classic red and white stripes, Cruz Azul in all blue.
With just two games remaining in the Clausura 2023, we could be in for a great game this evening...
Looking for a stream of Chivas vs Cruz Azul?
Viewers in the US can watch live on the streaming platform fuboTV, which offers a free trial!
Cruz Azul have a great record in Guadalajara
Tonight's visitors will be hopefully of extending their good run of form at the Akron Stadium, a venue where they are unbeaten since 2016. In fact, in their last five visits to Chivas, La Maquina have picked up four wins and a draw.
Tonight however they face a Chivas side fighting at the top of the table and in the hunt for a top four finish.
Welcome to Guadalajara!
Visitors Cruz Azul get a frosty welcome in the Akron Stadium ahead of tonight's match. The two sides have an extensive history and have faced each other on 144 previous occasions.
Let's hope there's something special in store for their 145th meet!
There's less than half an hour to go until kick-off in Guadalajara, where Chivas host Cruz Azul in the penultimate weekend of Liga MX Clausura fixtures.
We'll be bringing you live minute-by-minute updates from the Akron Stadium right here, but there are plenty of options to watch on TV or stream online.
Here's everything you need to know...
La Maquina are out for the warm up
Visitors Cruz Azul come into this evening's game as slight underdogs but they will be confident of coming away from the Akron Stadium with the three points. Performances have improved under the guidance of seasoned head coach Ricardo Ferretti, who has previously been interim coach of the Mexican national team.
After picking up four wins and two draws in Ferretti's first eight games in charge, can Cruz Azul extend their good run tonight?
And here's how Cruz Azul set up...
Brazilian head coach Ricardo Ferretti makes one big change for his ninth game in charge of Cruz Azul, introducing 23-year-old forward Ivan Morales into the starting XI.
La Maquina will be out to get a big result on the road tonight.
Chivas starting XI to face Cruz Azul...
As promised, we bring you team news from the Akron Stadium as the hosts confirm their line up.
The big change for Chivas is the addition of Pavel Perez to the starting XI after a match-winning contribution from the bench last time out. The midfielder is in good form for Los Rojiblancos, having scored twice in the last two games.
What a sight!
There's just under an hour to go until kick-off in Guadalajara and we're pumped to get underway at the Akron Stadium. It's expected to be a sell-out for tonight's match, the penultimate fixture of the Liga MX Clausura, with plenty riding on this game for both sides.
There are bragging rights to play for in today's Chivas vs Cruz Azul fixture, bringing together two of Mexico's most fanatically supported clubs. Over the years they have met 144 times, so who has come out on top in historic terms?
We find out...
Chivas in the house
Preparations are well underway at the Akron Stadium ahead of tonight's Liga MX clash. Chivas will hope to build on two recent victories over Leon and Necaxa and book their place in the automatic play-off slots.
Team news to follow shortly...
Chivas Guadalajara vs Cruz Azul: Minute-by-minute
Welcome to AS USA, where we'll be bringing you live coverage of a crucial Liga MX clash between Chivas Guadalajara and Cruz Azul.
Hosts Chivas come into the game on the back of a good run of form and can further secure their spot in the top four with a win tonight. Cruz Azul have had a more trying season but know that just one more win will guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs for the Liga MX Clausura.