Advantage Chivas? Rebaño Heads Home with 2-2 Draw Against Resilient Cruz Azul

In a high-intensity encounter featuring a world-class chip from Charly Rodriguez and a VAR-decided penalty, Chivas and Cruz Azul ended the first leg of the semifinals leveled at 2-2.

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The Liga MX Clausura 2026 Semifinals kicked off with a spectacle at the Estadio Azteca. Chivas and Cruz Azul played out a breathless 2-2 draw, a result that favors the Guadalajara side due to their higher seed in the general standings, though the tie remains entirely up for grabs.

Guadalajara broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. After a long-range shot from Ricardo Marín caused uncharacteristic trouble for keeper Kevin Mier, Santiago Sandoval pounced on the rebound to silence the home crowd. Cruz Azul’s response, however, was a masterclass in technique. In the 37th minute, Carlos 'Charly' Rodríguez spotted Chivas keeper Oscar Whalley slightly off his line and executed a perfect long-range chip that sailed into the net for the equalizer.

The second half began with tactical chess moves. Chivas manager Gabriel Milito brought on Miguel Gómez, who assisted Ángel Sepúlveda for a clinical header in the 50th minute, putting the "Rebaño" back in front. The lead was short-lived as VAR intervened five minutes later, upgrading a foul on Christian Ebere from a free kick to a penalty. The Nigerian forward calmly converted the spot-kick to restore parity.

The final stages were a test of endurance and nerves. Chivas almost stole the win in the 87th minute, but Kevin Mier redeemed his earlier error with a world-class double save against Yael Padilla. With the aggregate score tied at 2-2, Cruz Azul must win in Guadalajara to reach the final, while Chivas only needs a draw to advance thanks to their superior regular-season record.