Chivas Shows Strong Soccer but Falls Narrowly to Cruz Azul | OneFootball

Puebla, Pue. — Guadalajara delivered a performance full of quality and intensity at Estadio Cuauhtémoc but lacked sharpness in front of goal, which proved costly in a 2-1 loss to Cruz Azul on Saturday night in Clausura 2026 Matchday 7 action. Despite seeing their winning streak come to an end at the start of the tournament, Gabriel Milito’s squad remains the sole leader of Liga MX with 18 points.

The opening minutes featured balanced play, with maximum intensity across the pitch and the Rojiblancos responding in every challenge. However, set pieces paid dividends for the Cementeros, who capitalized on key moments to score. Milito countered the opponent’s intensity with substitutions that made an immediate impact, though it wasn’t enough to return home with points.

Guadalajara must now turn the page and focus on its next match, once again away from home, this time against Toluca on Matchday 8 of CL26. The clash with the Diablos is scheduled for Saturday, February 28 at 5 PM at Estadio Nemesio Diez.

Goals

- The hosts opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a header inside the box from Gabriel Fernández.

- 'Sepu’s' first of the tournament! In the 80th minute, Ángel Sepúlveda rose in the heart of the box to send a perfectly placed header to the far post after a great cross from Ricardo Marín.

- In the 84th minute, La Máquina regained the lead from a set piece, as Carlos Rodríguez headed the ball inside the near post, beating “Tala” Rangel.

Key Chances

- Efraín Álvarez caught everyone off guard in the 16th minute with a long-range direct free kick, but the goalkeeper’s strong save sent it out for a corner.

- At the 45th minute, Roberto Alvarado created space and fired a shot, but the curve carried the ball inches wide of the post.

- In stoppage time of the first half (45+3’), Richard Ledezma cut inside and struck a cross-shot that sailed just past the far post.

- In the 64th minute, Alvarado unleashed a powerful free kick headed for the top corner, but Gudiño’s diving save pushed it out for a corner.

- At the 67th minute, Hugo Camberos beat two defenders on the wing and fired toward goal, but a crucial sliding tackle sent the ball wide.

- In the 76th minute, Camberos again broke down the left and delivered a cross to Armando González, whose header lacked direction.

- Moments later, Camberos struck a rocket from outside the box that smashed off the crossbar.

- In the 88th minute, Alvarado headed toward the far post searching for the equalizer but couldn’t make clean contact, sending it wide.

Cruz Azul 2-1 Chivas(Gabriel Fernández 33’, Carlos Rodríguez 84’)(Ángel Sepúlveda 80’)Referee: Maximiliano Quintero HernándezVenue: Estadio Cuauhtémoc

Lineups

Cruz Azul: Andrés Gudiño; Willer Ditta, Erik Lira (C), Gonzalo Piovi; Jorge Rodarte (Omar Campos 79’); Agustín Palavecino, Ángel Márquez, Carlos Rodríguez, Carlos Rotondi; José Paradela (Luka Romero 79’) and Gabriel Fernández (Nicolás Ibáñez 66’).Head Coach: Nicolás Larcamón

Guadalajara: Raúl Rangel; Daniel Aguirre, Diego Campillo, José Castillo (Hugo Camberos 53’); Richard Ledezma, Rubén González (C), Omar Govea (Brian Gutiérrez 53’), Bryan González; Efraín Álvarez (Ángel Sepúlveda 53’), Roberto Alvarado and Armando González (Ricardo Marín 79’).Head Coach: Gabriel Milito