MEXICO CITY – Club America withstood a fierce challenge from Chivas to punch their ticket to the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals following a 3-2 defeat in the Round of 16 second leg on Wednesday night at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Despite facing a 3-0 deficit entering the night, Chivas scored twice to pull within a goal, but Club America answered and would eventually pocket a 5-3 win on aggregate to advance to the quarterfinals.
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¡@ClubAmerica aseguró su lugar en Cuartos de Final de #ConcaChampions! pic.twitter.com/PLZRAXzz0b
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 14, 2024
Chivas needed to start the night with an early goal, and they served up an early warning notice in the 6’ when Fernando Gonzalez blasted a shot that left the crossbar shaking.
Six minutes later in the 12’, the visitors from Guadalajara landed the first big punch, as Alan Mozo served up a cross and Cade Cowell was there to thump a header into net for a 1-0 Chivas lead.
The Chivas goal brought the game to life and they struck again in the 32’ when Roberto Alvarado served up a free kick that met the rising Ricardo Marin, who turned a header into net to give Chivas a 2-0 lead, bringing them to within a goal on aggregate.
The home side was in need of a goal and they got some breathing room early in the second half when a Chivas giveaway led to a break and an own goal from Mozo in the 51’ to cut the Chivas lead to 2-1, but giving Club America a 4-2 advantage on aggregate.
It was just the lift Las Aguilas needed, and they managed to pull level in the match 2-2 in the 60’ when the rebound of a blocked shot fell perfectly for Diego Valdes to set up Alejandro Zendejas, who hammered into net for the goal.
But right back came Chivas and three minutes later they re-took the lead 3-2 in the match in the 63’ when Alvarado came soaring into the area and headed in a cross from Alan Mozo.
Club America were able to take the sting out of the match after the Roberto Alvarado goal, and despite Chivas committing numbers forward, the hosts saw things out until the final whistle to book their spot in the final eight.
