Cesar Huerta / Quadratín Jalisco
GUADALAJARA, Jal., December 22, 2022.- Guadalajara was at a disadvantage, but had the ability to react. This Thursday night, the Sacred Flock came from behind to beat Tigres 2-1 as a visitor, thanks to goals from Conejito Isaac Brizuela and Lalo Torres. And with this result, they secured the leadership of Group B of the Sky Cup. The ticket to the final is in the bag, with nine points, no matter what happens next Tuesday in the Clásico Tapatío against Atlas.
After the stupendous display in the 4-0 draw against Santos, the rojiblanco team arrived at the Estadio Universitario full of confidence. It looked better in the first minutes. In ’17, a cross from Isaac Brizuela came from the right. Santiago Ormeño got ahead of Jesús Angulo’s lukewarm mark and connected with a header, but the ball went over the crossbar.
Later, in ’26, the Monterrey team gave the first warning about the visiting goal. Javier Aquino from the right wing, crossed with his left foot, behind the defense. Luis Quiñones entered alone, but the ball was not comfortable. He raised his leg to finish off, almost on the edge of the six-yard box. The round came out above the arc.
Four minutes later, the cat team took a short free kick. Rafael Carioca played immediately for Javier Aquino, who received away from the goal. No one came up to him and took advantage of the fact that he had time to decide. He released his right leg. A cross shot that hit goalkeeper Miguel Jiménez earlier. The round went over his glove and ended in the net for 1-0.
Before the end of the first half, Guadalajara had an important opportunity to equalize the score. It was running in ’42, when Zahid Muñoz entered the area from the left. With a cut to the center, he took two opponents off his back. He released a right foot shot, to the first post. Nahuel Guzmán reacted in a great way and deflected a corner kick.
Already in the plugin, the Sacred Flock assumed the responsibility it had to go to the front in search of the equalizer. At minute 42, Lalo Torres took a powerful, low, crossed right-hand shot from outside the area, which went past Nahuel Guzmán, but barely went past the side. Guadalajara demonstrated its intention to offend.
But Tigres also had a chance to increase their lead. At ’56, Luis Quiñones stole the ball from Gilberto Sepúlveda, near the corner kick flag. The Tigres footballer touched Nicolás el Diente López behind, who opened space inside the area and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, which Miguel Jiménez deflected into a corner kick.
Guadalajara began to press hard. The goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán “fell asleep” and Santiago Ormeño squeezed, stole the ball and played for Lalo Torres, who returned the ball to him. The rojiblanco attacker finished off and Jesús Angulo covered the line, although he had already marked himself out of place. The emotion was free, to ’57.
The Sacred Flock insisted to the front. They were playing in ’63, when Alejandro Mayorga made the pass from the left and Fernando Beltrán touched him with the ball. The left back went deep and launched a cross that covered both the defense and Nahuel Guzmán. Isaac Brizuela appeared to only push the visiting 1-1 to the bottom.
The local squad had one more, at ’72, but Guido Pizarro’s spectacular volley, from outside the area, was deflected by Miguel Jiménez. The tie seemed decreed, but at ’88, Guadalajara pressed at the start and stole the ball. Luis Puente opened for Isaac Brizuela, who played low to the center. On the edge of the area, Lalo Torres accommodated his right foot very well to put the round close to the post. It was the final 2-1.
The marker did not move anymore in the University Stadium. Chivas confirmed that it is taking good shape thanks to coach Veljko Paunovic. With the win, they reached 9 points from three games and secured the top of Group B of the Sky Cup, as well as a ticket to the final. They are followed by Tigres (5) and Atlas (4), who will no longer be able to catch up with him. Next Tuesday, Guadalajara will close the first phase of this friendly tournament by facing Los Zorros in the Clásico Tapatío.
