Fansided

Liga MX: SuperClásico ends in draw after dramatic penalty save

By Thomas Buckley

CARSON, CA - JANUARY 09: Two friends show their support of their teams as they attend the two InterLiga matches of Atlas v Club America and CD Chivas de Guadalajara v UANL Tigres at The Home Depot Center on January 9, 2009 in Carson, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - JANUARY 09: Two friends show their support of their teams as they attend the two InterLiga matches of Atlas v Club America and CD Chivas de Guadalajara v UANL Tigres at The Home Depot Center on January 9, 2009 in Carson, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Chivas goalie Raúl Gudiño saved a penalty on the final play of the SuperClásico to preserve a 1-1 tie as América missed a chance to move into first place as Matchday 11 came to a close.

Gudiño had committed the penalty himself in minute 94 when he crashed into Henry Martin as the Águilas sub tried to chip a loose ball over the onrushing goalie.

Matheus Uribe’s spot kick was poorly taken and Gudiño parried it away as he dived to his right.

América dominated the first 45 minutes patiently taking advantage of the Chivas’ makeshift 5-4-1 line-up. Defender Jair Pereira blocked a shot from point-blank range in minute 20 after the Chivas had made a series of errors in trying to clear their zone. Gudiño made a lunging save of an Oribe Peralta shot eight minutes later.

Guadalajara coach José Cardozo used a conservative and unfamiliar line-up, his hand forced by injuries to midfield stalwarts Orbelín Pineda and Michael Pérez. In the center of the Chivas’ 4-man midfield, Fernando Beltrán and Alan Cervantes – both 20-year-olds with limited Liga MX experience – seemed overmatched at times against Guido Rodríguez and Uribe, who prowl the middle of the pitch so aggressively for América.

The Chivas seemed to be bothered by the slow Estadio Azteca pitch, a bit sodden after so much rain recently. Passes were left short and individual moves bogged down as traction was difficult. But Guadalajara’s three center backs – especially Pereira – were steady and prevented América from finding space in the middle of their offensive third. On the wings, Renato Ibarra – and to a lesser extent, Cecilio Domínguez – tried again and again to find forwards Oribe Peralta and Roger Martínez with crosses, but with little success.

The half ended 0-0 and one wondered if Cardozo would make any changes as Alan Pulido and Isaac Brizuela had difficulty shutting down América’s advances down the flanks which kept fullbacks José Carlos Van Rankin and Edwin Hernández pinned back.

Cardozo stuck with his starters and it paid off in minute 59 when Cervantes had space near the center circle and sent Van Rankin down the right flank behind the América defense. Replays showed Van Rankin was offside at the pass but he made a brilliant play as he chased the ball to the touch-line, then eluded two defenders as he tippy-toed along the line, then crisply fired to Pulido unmarked at the near post about 8 meters from goal. Pulido trapped the ball softly and quickly punched it under the diving Agustín Marchesín as he sought to cover the center of his goal.

Gudiño made two more saves to protect the lead, the second a leaping flick of a Peralta chip that seemed destined for the back of the net.

América coach Miguel Herrera replaced the ineffective Domínguez with Andrés Ibarguen in minute 67 and replaced defender Jorge Sánchez with another striker, the aforementioned Martín, 11 minutes later. The moves paid off in minute 81 when Ibarguen gathered a long cross on the back side, stepped past a defender along the top of the box and let fly from 18 meters. His shot deflected off Brizuela and banged off the far post before bouncing into the net.

Cardozo finally made some changes – taking off Brizuela for Walter Sandoval and replacing Pulido with Ángel Saldívar – but the Chivas struggled to get through midfield with numbers.

More from Viva Liga MX

In minute 93, Guadalajara made a push but Hernández lost the ball just across midfield then chapped down Rodríguez to prevent a counter. On the ensuing free kick, América sent eight players into the box and Marchesín sent a long ball into the scrum, the ball bounced free back toward the near post and that’s when Gudiño charged into Martín and ref César Ramos correctly whistled the penalty.

The 1-1 draw leaves América in 2nd place, now only 2 points behind Cruz Azul (a 3-1 loser at Pachuca on Saturday), while the Chivas are in 9th, even on points with Pachuca but 3 back on goal differential.

The Águilas must regroup for a road trip to the surging Tigres while the Chivas return home for a date with the 5th place Pumas.

Home/Club America