When has América lost a playoff game by two or more goals?
To advance to the Clausura 2023 final, Chivas must beat the Águilas by two goals or more at the Azteca on Sunday night. How many times have América lost by such an amount?
América gained the upper hand in the first leg of the Clausura 2023 semi-finals, beating Chivas by the minimum on Thursday. That one-goal lead might seem slim but it means that Chivas need to score two or more goals at the Azteca in Sunday’s return leg, and not concede any, to book a place in the final. The reason being that levelling the tie won’t be enough for Chivas as they finished below the Águilas in the regular seasons standings due to an inferior goal difference.
Under Fernando Ortiz’s leadership, América have only lost a playoff game by two goals or more once at the Azteca and three times in total - all of them in this tournament.
The first time was in the 2022 Clausura semi-final against Pachuca. The first leg ended 1-1 but there was only one team in the return - Pachuca ran out 3-0 winners at Estadio Hidalgo with goals from Ibarra (2) and Sánchez. Two months later, in Week 4 of the Apertura 2022, they lost 2-0 to Xolos at Estadio Caliente.
The last time América lost by two or more goals at the Azteca
At the beginning of March, América had completed a whole year without losing at the Colossus of Santa Úrsula - their last home defeat was against Pachuca in February 2022. ‘Chofis’ López, Jesús Hernández and Roberto De la Rosa were on target for the Tuzos in Week 10 of the tournament - the only occasion that the Azulcremas have suffered a defeat by a difference of two or more goals at home with Tano as their coach.
The last time Chivas won by a difference of two goals or more at the Azteca
In América’s centenary year, Chivas served their staunch rival one of their most painful defeats, beating them 0-3 at the Azteca. ‘Bunny’ Brizuela claimed a brace and ‘Gullit’ Peña added another with five minutes to go in a Clasico which Las Águilas will want to forget.
Then there were also Chivas’ triumphs in 2011 and 2000, 1-3 and 0-3 respectively - as of the moment, the only Rojiblanco victories at the Azteca by two or more goals.