N/A
Chivas Guadalajara beat Toronto FC 4-2 on penalties in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final on Wednesday at the Estadio Akron after the match finished with an aggregate score of 3-3.
The Major League Soccer side recorded a 2-1 win on the night thanks to goals from Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. It scored after Orbelin Pineda handed Chivas a 3-1 aggregate lead with his opener, but the Canadian team fell short in the shootout.
Chivas scored with all four of its spot-kicks, but misses from Toronto's Jonathan Osorio and Michael Bradley proved costly.
The competition's official Twitter account provided highlights of the absorbing contest:
Because of several injuries, Toronto started the game with a centre-back pairing of right-back Gregory van der Wiel and midfielder Bradley, and Chivas capitalized early on. It looked to be in a comfortable position on home turf when Rodolfo Pizarro slipped Pineda in after 18 minutes.
Toronto had turned things around before half-time, however. Altidore slotted home after Chivas failed to clear its lines following a corner, while Giovinco struck with a low effort.
The Mexican side were fortunate not to be a man down after the break when Michael Perez appeared to punch Giovinco off the ball. Chivas was also denied by the post when substitute Jose de Jesus Godinez crashed an effort on goal.
Toronto should have sealed a late win when Giovinco picked out Marky Delgado in space, but the midfielder sent the gilt-edged chance over the bar, and Bradley's decisive penalty went the same way.
Goal USA's Ives Galarcep singled him out for praise despite the miss, while ESPN FC's Tom Marshall reflected on Toronto's impressive campaign:
The win represents Chivas' first Champions League title since triumphing in the inaugural tournament in 1962, and it continued Liga MX's domination of the competition.
A Mexican side has won each of the last 13 finals, while MLS has not had a winner since Los Angeles Galaxy in 2000.
Monterrey take on Tigres in the final round of fixtures in Liga MX's Apertura on Saturday.
The hosts go into the Clasico Regiomontano top of the table with 34 points, while Tigres are two points further back in second.
Both teams have already qualified for the play-offs, but Tigres have the chance to finish top with victory at the home of their local rivals.
Here is how you can watch the game in Guadalupe, Mexico:
Date: Saturday, November 18
Time: 1 a.m. (November 19) (GMT), 8 p.m. (ET)
TV Info: Univision Deportes USA (U.S.)
Live Stream: Univision NOW, fubo.tv (U.S.)
Preview
Monterrey and Tigres will renew their rivalry on Saturday with both teams going into the game having lost just two of 16 league games so far this season.
Tigres narrowly beat Necaxa 1-0 on Sunday night thanks to an Enner Valencia penalty.
The former West Ham United man has a good record since joining the club in the summer, as highlighted by Football.London's Sam Inkersole:
However, Tigres were wasteful and could have won the game by more, per Mexican football writer Oliver Duxbury:
The visitors certainly possess plenty of firepower with Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has four league goals this season, and Eduardo Vargas, who has five.
Tigres will certainly need to be more clinical if they are to beat Monterrey, who go into the game without a win in their last three games in all competitions.
They did, however, manage to book their place in the Copa MX final, beating Club America on penalties after a goalless draw on Thursday.
The win came at a cost, with starlet Jonathan Gonzalez stretchered off in the second half and now a doubt for the game, per Soccer America.
The 18-year-old is one of the United States' most promising youngsters, per football writer Brian Sciaretta:
It promises to be a dramatic ending to the Apertura, although Monterrey will be favourites to get the result they require, particularly with home advantage and only needing a draw to clinch first place.
Daniel Gomez, a professional soccer player for the Mexican team Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente, was arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 48 pounds of methamphetamine across the U.S. border.
According to court records obtained by Joshua Stewart of the Los Angeles Times, Gomez was detained April 5 and charged with importing a controlled substance. A judge declined to grant him bail because he was determined to be a flight risk at a Tuesday hearing.
Gomez is a United States citizen who told border patrol he was returning to the states for work. An officer found the methamphetamine after cutting into a spare tire, which was inconsistent in weight and appearance upon initial investigation. The report says Gomez “claimed he did not know anything about the drugs in the vehicle."
According to police, Gomez admitted he owned the vehicle but said he had traded it with another person three months prior. He retrieved the car sometime in March.
Gomez's club did not return a request for comment, per Stewart.
Brazil legend Ronaldinho has terminated his contract with Queretaro despite have a year left on his deal with the Liga MX club.
Having arrived at Queretaro in September 2014, the former Barcelona playmaker helped his side to the two-legged Clausura championship final in May, which they lost 5-3 on aggregate to Santos Laguna.
But he will not be any help to them next season after it was announced his two-year contract would be ended early, per Reuters (h/t Eurosport).
The 35-year-old took to his Facebook page to announce that he had terminated his contract on Friday, and to thank the Queretaro fans, per the Reuters report: "I want to thank the Mexican nation with all my heart for all the days I spent with such special people, you will always be in my heart."
Mexican football writer Tom Marshall reports that the club released a statement confirming Ronaldinho's departure and wished him well for the future:
A two-time FIFA World Player of the Year—in 2004 and 2005 while at Barca—Ronaldinho moved to Queretaro from Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.
It is as yet unclear where he will go next. Major League Soccer is a possibility, although Marshall is sceptical. South American football writer Rupert Fryer believes he will perhaps indulge his infamous penchant for partying before finding a new club:
While nowhere near the player he once was, Ronaldinho still warrants affection for his ability to play with great flair and joy.
He would be welcome at most clubs around the world, and he will likely demand a high salary wherever he goes, as he is still a box office attraction.
America are hurt, there's no other way to put it. Las Aguilas just lost to Montreal Impact in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League and are slowly fading away in the Liga MX.
It's been a tough and not very consistent season for Gustavo Matosas' side.
In their first seven matchdays they had a 4-2-1 record, with their only defeat in Matchday 2. But things went downhill from that point for Las Aguilas.
They have only secured two wins in the Liga MX ever since. But what's really worrying is that they have been routed three times
First, Costa Rican club Herediano defeated them 3-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. Two days later Veracruz trashed them 4-0.
But Las Aguilas defeated Herediano 6-0 in the second leg of the continental tournament, which seemed to be the team's resurrection.
However, the good performance was just a sparkle, because Queretaro arrived in the Estadio Azteca to secure a 0-4 win.
Matosas needs to make adjustments soon, or he could lose his job.
This is a pretty complicated week for him, not only his side couldn't take advantage of playing on home soil in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final, but on Sunday they'll face Guadalajara in El Super Clasico.
Chivas started the 2015 Clausura fighting to avoid relegation.
They had had a lousy couple of years in the Mexican first division, but little by little coach Jose Manuel de la Torre managed to overcome the situation.
Guadalajara is going through a generational transition, which could be a terrible disadvantage, but Chepo de la Torre has managed to sort it through.
In the back line he has veteran Carlos Salcido, but also the promising Carlos Salcedo.
In the attack he can count on Omar Bravo and Aldo de Nigris, but he has another lethal weapon in Marco Fabian.
This balance has been instrumental for Guadalajara, who after 14 weeks lead the tournament with 25 points and a 7-4-3 record.
A win against Chivas would give America a huge confidence boost ahead of the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final, to be held in Montreal.
On the bright side, Las Aguilas have defeated Guadalajara at the Omnilife in the last three games. In the last six, America also leads, with five victories.
If they want to continue their supremacy over Guadalajara, America have to be flawless in the back line, where they have struggled terribly.
Matosas hasn’t been able to put all the lines together. This is not a side that works together, so there’s no one who could really lead in the midfield and make a link with the strikers.
America brought some of the best players of the Liga MX for the 2015 Clausura, but they haven’t shined a bit. Perhaps the only one who has really proven to be up for the challenge is Dario Benedetto.
Cristian Pellerano and Darwin Quintero haven’t made an impact on the pitch and this week’s match is the when they need to step up.
A win is key for both sides, but for America it would mean the world to defeat their archenemy ahead of their clash with Montreal Impact.
All stats appear courtesy of MedioTiempo.com.
