Playing for 90
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Chivas haul of goals earns Super Clásico victory

By Thomas Buckley

J.J. Macías arrived to Guadalajara in January 2020 with such high expectations it was always going to be difficult to live up to them. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images)
J.J. Macías arrived to Guadalajara in January 2020 with such high expectations it was always going to be difficult to live up to them. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Chivas win Classic in Cup
Cruz Azul’s Juan Escobar, left, has had a fine Cup. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) /

Late headed goal off free-kick saves sluggish Cruz Azul

Rookie goalie Andrés Gudiño played the hero for Cruz Azul, saving two penalty kicks that allowed La Máquina to advance to the Copa GNP Final on Sunday.

Defender Julio César Domínguez converted his team’s sixth spot-kick after Tigres midfielder Guido Pizarro clanked his penalty shot off the crossbar and Cruz Azul won the shootout 4-3.

The Cementeros saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end, but an injury-time goal from Igor Lichnovsky sent the semifinal match into a shootout.

The Tigres scored off a corner kick in minute 35 when Cruz Azul inexplicably left Luis Quiñones unmarked at the back post. Leo Fernández sent the corner kick over the scrum at the near post and the Colombian winger easily headed home before Cementeros keeper Jesús Corona could scramble back to cover the gaping net.

“Tuca” Ferretti’s men then sat back in a defensive posture, choking off passing lanes and closing space around the box. The strategy was helped along by a subpar performance from Cruz Azul whose playmakers spent much of the matchmaking poor passes or dribbling into trouble.

The Cementeros managed little in the way of offense after scoring 9 times during the group stage. Top scorer Jonathan Rodríguez manage two shots, but both were weak efforts directly at Nahuel Guzmán.

Second-half sub Alexis Gutiérrez had a decent chance to tie the game when he found space in front of goal only to send his header over the crossbar.

Finally, in minute 90+3 Cruz Azul won a free kick on the right flank about 40 meters from goal. Adrián Aldrete lofted a cross into the crowd at just inside the box clustered toward the front post. Lichnovsky rose highest and flicked the ball toward the back post and it bounced into the net as Guzmán could only watch and grimace.

That marked the second straight game in which the Tigres allowed a game-tying goal in injury-time. Atlas scored in minute 90+3 to earn a 2-2 tie on Sunday, dropping the Tigres into second place in Group B.

If the Monterrey-based team had held on for the win they would have faced América in the semifinals and Guadalajara would have had to take on Cruz Azul. The Tigres open the Guardianes 2020 season at Necaxa on July 24.

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