The champion Americaby Brazilian coach Andre Jardine, won this Saturday 1-0 at Chivas of Guadalajara, in the Mexican soccer derby, to qualify for the final of the Clausura 2024 tournament. After a goalless draw in the first leg, Israel Reyes scored for the Águilas, who won a series with a single goal. Fernando Gago’s Guadalajara dominated much of the first half although it was not forceful.
The first half was a struggle. Forced to win the match to qualify for the final, Chivas was better at the start and in the 14th minute was about to take the lead. Roberto Alvarado finished with his left foot and the ball hit the crossbar. América evened the duel, advanced from midfield to the front and in the 26th minute squandered the chance to take advantage when Israel Reyes finished on goal without a mark and the ball went one way.
In the second half, the two teams stepped into the rival areas; Julián Quiñones finished wide in the 49th minute and Fernando Beltrán did so in the 54th minute. Gago changed his top scorer, Víctor Guzmán, for the veteran Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, when América was preparing to take a free kick. In the recovery, the Chilean Igor Lichnovski served a ball to Reyes, who scored with a header to make it 1-0, in the 60th. Chivas insisted the rest of the game but without aim.
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In next week’s final, América will face the winner of Cruz Azul-Monterrey, which will be decided this Sunday. After winning the first leg 0-1 on Thursday, the Blues, led by Argentine coach Martín Anselmi, have everything in their favor because Monterrey, led by former Betic Sergio Canales, must win with a two-goal advantage to advance.
In case of a tie in the series, Cruz Azul will advance to the final, due to its best classification in the regular phase. América will seek its fifteenth title to confirm itself as the league’s top championship winner.
