Chivas goal scoring finally appeared in the Apertura 2026 when they defeated Tijuana by a 5-2 score. Chivas finally scored more than one goal in a Liga MX game during the season after they were able to convert their chances days after the news came that their top goal scorer, Armando Gonzalez, was transferred to Olympiakos in Greece. Tijuana came into the match tied in first place but they had a poor defensive display that Chivas took advantage of. Chivas will now travel south to face off against Pachuca while Tijuana returns home where they will host Pumas.
The 1st half started with a two hour and thirteen minutes rain delay. While the stadium crew did a huge effort to get the field in playable conditions, the field was drenched in a lot of areas. A good combination play ended with Efrain Alvarez getting the ball in the area but his left footed shot went wide. A left footed shot from outside the area by Santiago Sandoval was easily saved by Tijuana’s goalkeeper, Jose Rodriguez. A back pass was badly fumbled by Rodriguez and left there for Ricardo Marin, who incredibly kicked the ball straight to Rodriguez in a terrible miss. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area was headed back by Luis Romo into the path of Santiago Sandoval, who headed the ball from close range past Rodriguez to score and give Chivas the early 1-0 lead. It was a deserved goal as Chivas had been the better team. Tijuana would try to answer back with a counter in which Ramiro Arciga got off a header that would be cleared off the line by Romo. Off another corner kick, the cross into the area was headed back by Diego Campillo into the path of Ricardo Marin, who headed the ball from close range past Rodriguez to score and increased the lead to 2-0. It was the same play that Tijuana failed to defend and from set pieces, Chivas had a two goal lead. A cross into the area was headed by Diego Abreu but his teammate, Ignacio Rivera would get in between the path of his shot and deflected it wide. After a thru pass would allow Hugo Camberos to get into the area, he would be brought down by Arciga and the referee would give a Penalty Kick to Chivas. Ricardo Marin took the PK and calmly placed his left footed shot past Rodriguez to score and increased Chivas’ lead to 3-0. The halftime whistle blew and Chivas had a solid lead after having their best half played so far in the Apertura 2026.
The 2nd half started with Tijuana subbing out Pablo Ortiz, Diego Abreu and Ignacio Rivero for Alan Vega, Elias Manoel and Yael Padilla. Seconds after the start of the half, Chivas lost the ball and allowed Ivan Tona to get to the area but his left footed shot was blocked by Chivas’ goalkeeper, Raul Rangel. Rafael Fernandez got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Chivas subbed out Efrain Alvarez and Miguel Gomez for Brian Gutierrez and Luis Rey. Tijuana subbed out an injured Ramiro Arciga for Francisco Gonzalez. A great combination play by Chivas ended with Gutierrez finding a wide open Roberto Alvarado, whose left footed shot went past Rodriguez and into the net to score and give Chivas the 4-0 lead. It wasn’t the best strike by Alvarado but it luckily went past the Tijuana keeper. Chivas subbed out Santiago Sandoval and Hugo Camberos for Jordan Carrillo and Kevin Castañeda. Marin got off a left footed shot in the area that was saved by Rodriguez. Off a counter, the ball would reach a wide open Diego Campillo, who got off a right footed shot past Rodriguez to score and give Chivas the 5-0 lead. Chivas subbed out Ricardo Marin for Angel Sepulveda. A counter into the area would end with a great cross from Gonzalez that was headed by Elias Manoel past Rangel to score and place the score at 5-1. A great cross into the area was headed just wide by Jesus Alejandro Gomez. Tijuana subbed out Gilberto Mora for Angel Zapata. From outside the area, Tona got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went wide. A cross into the area would once again be headed by Elias Manoel and it went past Rangel to score and place the score at 5-2. Just as Chivas first two goals were very similar, so were Tijuana’s. It was too little too late and Chivas held on for a victory.
Chivas came into this match with a solid 7 points but not great displays in the Apertura 2026, especially on offense. Chivas had only scored three goals in four matches and weren’t creating as many opportunities for their forward. They also had the news that Armando Gonzalez would leave the team as he was transferred to Greece’s big team, Olympiakos. Yet Chivas was finally able to convert on Saturday as they worked to a five goal lead before they put their foot off the pedal and received two goals. Chivas now sits at fourth place but will have a very tough match when they travel south to Pachuca, a team that has given them trouble. Tijuana came in with an even better record but dropped all the way to 6th place, after coming into the match in 2nd place. Their defense suffered, especially on set pieces, which they need to improve fast. They will have to host Pumas, a team that has struggled a lot at Tijuana’s stadium, which will benefit to make up for the lost ground.
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