Chivas and Toluca battle it out in a very even tie

Chivas and Toluca tied 1-1 in their second game of the season. Chivas had been the better team, but just like most of this past season they failed to create much offensive danger. For all of Chivas’ possession, Toluca’s keeper was barely troubled and once Toluca sat back, the game turned into an even match that was set to be a tie. Chivas will now travel to San Luis to face Atletico San Luis on Thursday, while Toluca will go home to face Necaxa on Sunday.

The first half started with both teams looking for a victory. Chivas started without Oribe Peralta and now had Cesar Huerta and Alexis Vega from the start. The first minutes were extremely even with both teams sharing possession, but neither created chances. After a tackle by Huerta, it looked like Toluca’s Ruben Sambueza got injured as he had to limp out of the field of play, however he came back minutes later. In the first real chance of the game, Miguel Angel Ponce got into the area and got off a cross that Huerta was able to head, forcing Toluca’s goalkeeper Luis Garcia to make a great save. In the ensuing corner kick, Jesus Molina made a move in the area to get himself wide open and head the ball past Garcia for the 1-0 lead. In didn’t take long however for Toluca to tie the game. A minute later, Kevin Castañeda was allowed time outside the area to take a right footed shot and get the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Raul Gudiño to make it 1-1. This was Castañeda’s second goal of the season, having consecutive weeks where he scored with long range shots. Chivas tried to respond and would get an opportunity when Cristian Calderon got off a shot from outside the area but it went wide. Minutes later, Molina fell awkwardly on his ankle and looked to be injured. Molina though would return minutes later. Chivas had a good chance when the ball fell in the area, but the resulting shot from Uriel Antuna went wide. Molina would also come close with a header off a corner kick but it went wide.

The second half started with Toluca subbing out Michael Estrada for Enrique Triverio and Chivas subbing out Cesar Huerta for the return of Isaac Brizuela. Chivas would have the first opportunity in the second half when after a couple of passes, Calderon got of a left footed shot right into Toluca’s keeper hands. Toluca tried to answer back, and made a good play with a combination of passes before the ball got deflected after a shot. Chivas almost had a great opportunity before a dangerous cross by Vega got cleared by Claudio Baeza. Toluca subbed out Kevin Castañeda for Pablo Lopez, while Chivas subbed out Jesus Molina and Fernando Beltran for Alan Torres and Jesus Ricardo Angulo. Brizuela had an opportunity but his shot was saved by Garcia. A great play by Antuna, who dribbled through into the area, was wasted after his pass didn’t find a player. Then Toluca’s Jorge Torres Nilo got injured and was subbed out for Haret Ortega. Later they subbed out Rubens Sambueza for Antonio RIos. Chivas made their last move by subbing out Jesus Sanchez for Angel Zaldivar. Chivas had most of the possession and cornered Toluca, but were failing to create much danger. Once again Chivas seemed to lack ideas on the offense. In the final minute, Gilberto Sepulveda got a wide open header but it was saved by Garcia. The ref blew the whistle and Chivas got their second tie in as many games.

After a tough battle it seems that Chivas wasted an opportunity while Toluca got a good reward. Being at home and having most of the possession it was a prime opportunity for Chivas to get a win, but they couldn’t get the three points. Once again Chivas failed to create chances and for most of the possession, they were easily contained by Toluca’s defense. While last season there was a lot of criticism on Jose Juan Macias, it seems that these two games have proven that it’s not Chivas’ forwards who are the main cause of Chivas’ scoring woes. Toluca meanwhile weren’t as good as their opening match, but were able to get a point away to Chivas. They will now go home were they will be favored against Necaxa, while Chivas will go to struggling Atletico San Luis where fans will expect a win.