The Chivas from Guadalajara tournament champions were proclaimed Clausura 2022 of the Mexican Women’s Soccer League by surpassing the gophers of Pachuca in the final series by 4-3. Despite losing 1-0 to Pachuca in the second leg on Monday, Guadalajara’s 2-4 win in the first leg was enough for Chivas to win the second title in their history. Pachuca’s scorer was Lizbeth Angeles.
Guadalajara’s first championship was in the inaugural competition of the Women’s League in the 2017 Apertura, a tournament in which they also beat Pachuca in the final.
In the first half, the Gophers pressed and put the local against their field during the first 10 minutes. Guadalajara shook off dominance. In the 9th minute, Joseline Montoya surprised with a quick shot that required the reflexes of goalkeeper Esthefanny Barreras to send the ball to a corner kick.
In minute 14 the pressure from Chivas continued. Montoya took the ball to the right, cut past two defenders, and fired a left-footed shot at the far post, but the goalkeeper deflected it.
Las Tuzas regained offensive control in the 27th minute, creating danger with a long stroke that Mónica Ocampo initially gave way to the entry of Charlyn Corral, who shot into the side of the net. The insistence was maintained by Viridiana Salazar, she slipped in from the right and without a mark she shot powerfully, the goalkeeper rebounded to a corner kick.
Alicia Cervantes (Chivas) disputes the ball with Karen Díaz (Pachuca)
In the second half, Argentina’s Ruth Bravo had a greater role in the center of the Tuzas field, distributing services to Corral and Ocampo’s breakaways. In the 60th minute, Pachuca found the reward for their insistence with a powerful shot by Lizbeth Ángeles from three quarters of the field that hit the right post for the 0-1.
The visiting team had the goal to send the game to extra time in a penalty that goalkeeper Blanca Félix committed against Corral in the 67th minute. Charlyn charged it mid-height to the right of Félix, who saved. After the error, the Gophers lost depth and the local team managed to manage the last minutes without further damage to their goal.
Guatemalan Leslie Ramírez de Chivas, also of Mexican nationality, who did not play, became the second foreigner to be champion in the Mexican League. The first was the Costa Rican Valeria del Campo de las Rayadas de Monterrey at the Apertura 2021 in December.
Now, the Chivas will face the Rayadas starting this Friday in the Champion of Champions series to define the best women’s team of the 2021-2022 season.
