Match recap: Chivas 3, Tijuana 1

Fantastic saves by Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota and a brace by 18 year old José Juan Macías gave Chivas their first ever win over Tijuana in Guadalajara.

The game started out at a blistering pace. Chivas had a good chance in the third minute when Carlos Fierro made a great run down the right and then centered the ball in the box. The pass was dummied by the onrushing attacker, however no one was there and the chance was cleared out by Gibran Lajud.

It would be Xolos who would strike first, as Miller Bolaños and Pantera Bou combined on a fantastic give-and-go to put Tijuana up 1-0 in the 8th minute.

In the 20th minute, Chivas would answer. Carlos Fierro would make another run down the right, play give-and-go with Abuelo Basulto, drive past Damián Pérez, and fire a bullet past Lajud to draw the sides even.

In the 26th minute Xolos would hit a long distance free-kick, but Rodolfo Cota came up big to make the stop. Cota also read a run by Bolaños perfectly to intercept a through ball from Nacho Malcorra in the 31st minute.

Despite giving up the goal, Xolos looked like the team on the front foot for most of the first half. Their passing was quick and crisp, and players were making smart runs on both sides of play. Chivas on the other hand seemed content to absorb most of the pressure and try and hit on the counter down the right with Fierro and canterano José Juan Macías. It would work.

In the 38th minute, Macías would break the deadlock with a rocket in off of the crossbar. This goal would also come from Chivas’ right side.

Both teams came out in the second half looking to really assert themselves. Nacho Malcorra hit a good shot at Cota in the 49th minute, but Cota was up to the task. Shortly after that, Macías had a look at goal but this low, skipping shot was snuffed out by Lajud. In the 5th minute, Quick Mendoza would have a go at goal, but Cota made a fantastic diving stop to keep Chivas ahead.

Moments later, Bolaños would float in a cross that was headed by Núñez but Cota again came up huge. On the counter, Macías would get his brace when Juan Carlos Núñez would slip and fall, leaving Alejandro Donatti exposed. Macías would make a move and fire it past Gibran Lajud, to give Chivas a 3-1 lead.

Rodolfo would continue to make saves to keep Chivas in the game. In the 74th, Miller Bolaños would receive a cross on the left side of the box and would shoot at Cota, but he would knock the ball out to the top of the box. Alejandro Guido would hit a long distance rocket on the rebound that Cota was able to get his fingertips on and push over the bar.

There would be controversy in the 82nd minute when Gustavo Bou drew a foul along the side of the box. On the resulting free kick, Bou would fire a curling shot in, and Juan Lucero would get his head on it, ringing the deflection off of the post and crossbar and in. The Chivas players were incensed, claiming Lucero was offside, and after a couple minutes of discussion with the assistant referee, Lucero was indeed ruled offside and the goal was nullified.

Despite the best efforts of Tijuana, Chivas was able to hold on or their third win of the Liga MX Apertura, while Tijuana’s hoped of a return to the Liguilla would take a massive hit. Chivas will face Atlante on Tuesday, October 31 in Copa MX play and will host Atlas in a Clásico Tapatío match on Saturday, November 4. Xolos will return home to host León on Friday, November 3

Chivas de Guadalajara: Rodolfo Cota; Miguel Basulto, Carlos Salcedo, Oswaldo Alanís, Edwin Hernández, Michael Pérez, Fernando Beltrán, Ángel Zaldívar (Rodolfo Pizarro, 76’), Carlos Fierro (Eduardo López, 85’), José Juan Macías, Michelle Benítez (Carlos Cisneros, 61’)

Club Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Damián Pérez, Alejandro Donatti, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Víctor Aguilera, Juan Carlos Núñez (Juan Iturbe, 70’); Damián Musto (Alejandro Guido, 60’), Víctor Malcorra, Miller Bolaños; Luis Mendoza (Juan Martín Lucero, 60’), Gustavo Bou

Scoring: Chivas de Guadalajara - Carlos Fierro (20’), José Juan Macías (38’); Club Tijuana - Miller Bolaños (8’)

Disciplinary: Chivas de Guadalajara - Carlos Fierro (Yellow, 86’); Club Tijuana - Juan Carlos Núñez (Yellow, 52’), Alejandro Donatti (Yellow, 66’), Juan Iturbe (Yellow, 71’), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (Yellow, 90’)