Guadalajara was not decisive in their match against LA Galaxy and, despite Cade Cowell forcing a penalty shootout, the Galaxy prevailed once again, eliminating the team from the group stage of the Leagues Cup.
Chivas has been eliminated from the Leagues Cup, again in the group stage. The Club Deportivo Guadalajara lost in penalties after a 2-2 draw with LA Galaxy during regular time, in front of a packed stadium that provided full support. This defeat marked yet another failure for the Rebaño in the tournament against MLS teams.
The match started well for Chivas with a goal from Alan Mozo, but they quickly conceded an equalizer due to a defensive lapse by Joseph Paintsil. In the second half, Galaxy took the lead with Gabriel Pec scoring from a counterattack, but Cowell forced the penalty shootout by scoring a header in added time.
With the lead and qualification on the line, Chivas approached the penalty shootout where their fate in the Leagues Cup was at stake but ultimately lost from the penalty spot. Although ‘Tala’ Rangel gave hope by saving one penalty, Govea and Sepúlveda missed their attempts, allowing Galaxy to advance as group leaders, while Chivas exited early once again from the Leagues Cup, where they have consistently failed to get past the group stage.
Chicharito, who was a last-minute scratch due to discomfort, was replaced in the starting lineup by Ricardo Marín. The game began vibrantly, with both teams creating scoring opportunities, but Chivas took an early lead thanks to a bit of luck.
‘Nene’ Beltrán made a through pass to the area that deflected off Marín’s leg, setting up Mozo who was well-positioned to score for 1-0 just eight minutes into the match, beating Novak Micovic with a precise shot.
However, the Galaxy equalized almost immediately at the 11th minute. Chivas’ defense lost track of Mauricio Cuevas, who managed to assist Joseph Paintsil for an easy tap-in. Guadalajara’s fans protested for offside, but VAR confirmed it was a legitimate goal.
After conceding the quick equalizer, Chivas pressed forward to regain the lead, but Serbian goalkeeper Micovic made critical saves, denying Marín first and then brilliantly stopping a shot from Piojo Alvarado.
The first half ended with Chivas searching for another goal while Galaxy defended solidly. Just before halftime, a foul by ‘4K’ on Puig led to a brief scuffle, but nothing significant came from it.
The second half began with Chivas looking stronger. After some close calls from Cowell and Marín, the best chance fell to Fernando Beltrán, who struck the crossbar in a missed opportunity.
In football, a missed chance can lead to a quick response from the opponent, and that’s exactly what happened to Chivas. Gabriel Pec scored on a fast break in the 67th minute, putting the Galaxy ahead 2-1 with a precise shot into the right corner, assisted by Mark Delgado.
Chivas needed at least a goal to force penalties and avoid another early exit from the Leagues Cup. José Castillo came close to leveling the score in the 73rd minute, but another excellent save by Micovic kept it 2-1.
Just when it seemed Chivas would face yet another disappointment, Cade Cowell scored a powerful header equalizer in the 92nd minute.
However, that dramatic equalizer only extended the hopes of Chivas supporters, who were ultimately left disappointed by the penalty shootout defeat. Although Rangel saved a penalty from Fagúndez, Govea missed in the fourth attempt, and Chivas lost in sudden death when Micovic stopped Sepúlveda’s kick.
As a result, Guadalajara was once again eliminated from the Leagues Cup at the group stage, unable to progress to the knockout rounds, marking another failure for the team under Gago, Amaury Vergara, and their management.