Liga MX Final match recap: Guadalajara 1, Tigres UANL 2

As the clock approached the 90 minute mark, Chivas looked like they’d be taking a 2-1 lead to El Volcán next week against Tigres. Instead they’re the ones that are down 2-1, and might be missing their best player to boot.

In the opening minutes of the match Chivas were largely in control of the match, keeping possession and making several forays into Tigres’ end. Tigres’ defense was able however to contain Chivas, not allowing them to threaten much beyond an errant pass that slowly rolled to Ofelia Solís. At the other end of the field, Tigres was slow and deliberate in their build up play, but also had difficulty in connecting the final pass that would unlock a scoring opportunity. Chivas finally broke through in the eighth minute when Licha Cervantes was played in by Caro Jaramillo and put one past Solís, but the linesperson raised her flag to indicate that Cervantes was played in an offside position.

Tigres broke through in the 12th minute when Stephany Mayor was played forward. She feinted, dipped her shoulder, and blew past the defense to create space, hitting a shot past Blanca Félix to give the visitors the lead and an important away goal.

Chivas came back down the field and tried to establish some sort of offensive presence, but Tigres’ defense largely kept them at bay. Chivas had Cervantes sitting back a bit, using her as a playmaker to distribute the ball wide to Joseline Montoya and Anette Vázquez, however she was double-teamed and wasn’t able to do much. She did have a great opportunity in the 23rd minute when she was played onside past the defense but her shot went just over the crossbar.

In the 32nd Jackie Ovalle had a look at goal but a good play by Michelle González kept the shot from creating any danger. Tigres continued to look dangerous, with a free kick in the 35th minute causing Blanca Félix a little trouble before it was cleared out by her defense. Chivas then started getting more possession in the Tigres end, but the best chance they had before the end of the half was a shot by Caro Jaramillo that was well wide of the net.

Tigres started strong in the second half. Their defense did well to shut down the passing lanes and thwart Chivas attacks. In the 47th, María Sánchez hit a shot from distance that hit the crossbar. Then in the 50th minute it looked like Tigres had added a second when Jackie Ovalle timed her run and deflected a ball past Blanca Félix, but the assistant referee called it offside. Replays showed that might not have been the correct decision, however without VAR there was no review. Then immediately at the other end Anette Vázquez was played forward from a ball from deep and she knocked one past Solís to draw the sides level.

Then in the 54th Vázquez almost had a second when Solís muffed a punch on a ball in the box. It fell to Vázquez, however her shot went over the bar. At the other end, Belén Cruz hit a shot from distance that sailed just over the bar in the 64th. Four minutes later, Tigres had a good opportunity when Félix made a good save, but the rebound went to Jackie Ovalle. Her shot however was stopped by a sliding tackle from Miriam García.

In the 71st Chivas had a very good opportunity when Cervantes was played in on goal. She made some moves to lose the defenders on her and hit a shot, but Solís was positioned well and made the stop look easy. Cervantes however went down and was carted off of the field, to be subbed out in the 76th minute. Chivas was granted a golden opportunity in the 88th minute when Ofelia Solís botched a save on a long range shot and knocked over Caro Jaramillo in the box. Jaramillo however smashed her shot from the spot off of the crossbar.

Then deep in stoppage a corner kick got put into the mixer. It wound up going to Katty Martínez, who hit an over-the-head kick toward goal that was knocked in by Greta Espinoza in the final play of the game.

The return match will be at El Volcán onMonday.

Guadalajara: Blanca Félix; Damaris Godínez, Michelle González, Miriam García, Jaqueline Rodríguez; Miriam Castillo, Victoria Acevedo; Anette Vázquez (Gabriela Valenzuela, 69’), Carolina Jaramillo, Joseline Montoya; Licha Cervantes (Isabella Gutiérrez, 76’)

Tigres UANL: Ofelia Solís; Natalia Villarreal, Bianca Sierra, Greta Espinoza, Cristina Ferral; María Sánchez, Nancy Antonio, Liliana Mercado, Jackie Ovalle (Blanca Solís, 74’); Stephany Mayor, Belén Cruz (Katty Martínez, 66’)

Scoring: Guadalajara - Anette Vázquez (50’); Tigres UANL - Stephany Mayor (12’), Greta Espinoza (90+4’)

Disciplinary: Guadalajara - None; Tigres UANL - Ofelia Solís (Yellow - 31’), Greta Espinoza (Yellow - 79’)