Chivas Edges América in Narrow Victory in Concacaf Champions Cup.

Guadalajara, Mexico — Chivas took a slim 1-0 lead over América in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 clash, played on March 5, 2025, at Estadio Akron. The victory sets the stage for an intense second leg next week, with everything still up for grabs.

Tight Contest with Limited Chances

The match was closely contested from the start, with both teams struggling to gain control in the midfield. Chances to score were few and far between, with both sides having only limited opportunities to break the deadlock.

Controversial Moments Early On

The first major incident occurred in the 15th minute when América’s Luis Romo was accused of handling the ball inside the penalty area. Chivas players and supporters loudly called for a penalty, but the referee dismissed the appeal, and the VAR did not intervene.

Chivas Capitalizes on Lucky Break

In the 76th minute, Chivas found their moment of fortune. Roberto Alvarado delivered a cross into the box that Mateo Chávez flicked with his head towards the center. The ball then deflected off Sebastián Cáceres, ending up in the back of the net for an unfortunate own goal. This gave Chivas the crucial lead.

América’s Response and Chivas’ Strong Defense

América quickly looked to respond, launching an attack to level the score. Erick Sánchez fired a powerful shot from distance in the 82nd minute, but Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel made an outstanding save. Moments later, Henry Martín had a chance to equalize, but Rangel again denied him with another superb stop.

Second Leg to Decide the Outcome

Chivas will head into the second leg with a narrow 1-0 advantage, and América will need to score at least once in the return match to stay in contention. The second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 will take place next Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.

Next Clash: Liga MX Showdown

Before the Concacaf decider, Chivas and América will meet again on Saturday for a Liga MX clash at Estadio Akron. Both teams will be eager to secure a victory as they continue their rivalry.

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