Chivas has claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over América in the first leg of their highly anticipated Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 clash. The National Classic began this Wednesday at Akron Stadium, where Chivas struck the first blow in the series, leaving everything to play for in next week’s return leg at the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium.
Despite limited attacking chances for both teams, the Sacred Flock took advantage of a fortunate own goal to secure a slim advantage. The two sides struggled to create clear scoring opportunities throughout the match, with the midfield battle dominating much of the game.
Tight First Half with Early Controversy
From the opening whistle, the game was tight and lacked high-intensity chances. The first controversial moment came in the 15th minute when a potential handball by Luis Romo inside the area went unpunished. América players and fans expected a penalty, but the VAR did not review the incident, leaving the decision up to the referee.
América’s first real opportunity arrived in the 27th minute, as a well-executed team move set up Álvaro Fidalgo in front of the Chivas goal. However, Fidalgo’s shot lacked power, and Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel comfortably collected the ball. Shortly afterward, Erick Sánchez had another chance, capitalizing on a mistake from Romo. His long-range shot sailed wide of Rangel’s goal, keeping the score level.
Chivas Breakthrough in Second Half
Chivas found their first real chance in the 58th minute, as Alan Pulido set up José Castillo with a clever ball. Castillo surged forward, but América’s goalkeeper Ángel Malagón was quick to deflect the shot to safety.
As the match wore on, the game opened up, and Chivas found their breakthrough in the 76th minute. Roberto Alvarado delivered a well-placed cross to Mateo Chávez at the far post. Chávez’s header was blocked by Malagón, but the ball ricocheted off Sebastián Cáceres and into his own net, gifting Chivas the lead.
América’s Final Push
América fought back in the closing stages of the match, desperately seeking an equalizer. In the 82nd minute, Sánchez tried his luck from long distance, forcing Rangel to dive and punch the ball clear. The rebound fell to Henry Martín, whose powerful shot was again thwarted by Rangel, preserving Chivas’ clean sheet and their narrow advantage.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Chivas now heads into the second leg of this Concacaf Champions Cup tie with a crucial away goal in hand. The series will be decided next Wednesday at the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium, where América will need to overturn the 1-0 deficit to progress. The first tiebreaker in the event of a draw is the away goals rule, which Chivas currently leads due to their victory.
In addition to the Concacaf clash, both teams will meet again this Saturday in Liga MX action at the same Akron Stadium, setting the stage for more high-stakes encounters between the two historic clubs.
For América, the task ahead is clear: they must bounce back and find a way to break Chivas’ defense in the return leg. However, with Chivas’ solid defensive performance and their valuable away goal, América will face a challenging task in their pursuit of advancing to the next round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
With a 1-0 lead heading into next week’s decisive second leg, Chivas has given themselves an advantage, but América will be eager to fight back on home soil. Stay tuned for the continuation of this intense rivalry, with both teams fully aware of the stakes involved in this prestigious tournament.
For more updates visit inews.
