They sure did a lot of staring…into the back of their own nets.

Who missed the first goal? I did.

I was barely settling down when the second was scored.

Finally, a Chivas team that plays like what a Chivas team is supposed to play like.

Atlas
1 Mariano Barbosa
29 Mario Méndez (YC 80′)
2 Ismael Fuentes (YC 22′)
16 Hugo Ayala
8 Jorge Torres Nilo (Saúl Villalobos 46′)
4 Luis Enrique Robles
30 Darwin Chávez
22 Édgar Pacheco
10 Darío Botinelli (Christian Díaz 58′)
20 Hebert Alferez (Néstor Vidrio 71′)
11 Daniel Osorno
DT Ricardo La Volpe
Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel (YC)
6 Omar Esparza (YC 68′)
4 Héctor Reynoso (YC17′)
3 Aarón Galindo
19 Jonny Magallón
11 Ramón Morales (Édgar Solís 62′)
7 Gonzalo Pineda (YC 10′) (Patricio Araujo 64′)
20 Édgar Mejía
10 Alberto Medina
14 Javier Hernández
99 Omar Bravo (Omar Arellano 73′)
DT José Luis Real

Four goals.

Two came in within the first three minutes of the game. Atlas cut the lead in half with their goal in the 13th minute, mostly because Chivas were a little cocky at being ahead.

The team had plenty more opportunities to score, and if Ramon Morales had not been taken off in the 62nd minute there could have been many more. Chivas settled after the ex-captain was off.

But I’m liking this new coach. Jose Luis Real. Chivas looked better midweek against Indios(sorry about missing that…) but ended up drawing 2-2 at the last second. However, the team played heaps better. Medina looked impressive, Morales was back, Michel wasn’t forced too much and you could actually tell that Bravo was on the pitch.

It was more or less the same against Atlas.

Michel wasn’t too troubled and his performance wasn’t as outstanding as in previous games, mostly because it wasn’t forced to be.

The defense was positioned much better and didn’t have too much trouble.

The midfield was helpful and created many chances.

And up front the goals clearly weren’t lacking. The team could have added a few more but four goals are good enough.

The only bad thing about a win at this point is that Chivas will have to depend on others for a possible place in the Liguilla. Chivas in the Liguilla? It’s a possibility. Because of how they played today, I would say that they deserve it.

Unfortunately, San Luis won as well so a draw next week would give them the spot.

Chivas have to win against Cruz Azul. The Maquina has been doing well and have the top goalscorer(Villa) so it won’t be the easiest thing. The game is at home which should help a bit.

Guadalajara

1 Luis Michel
17 Amaury Ponce
33 Mario de Luna
4 Héctor Reynoso
20 Édgar Mejía
11 Ramón Morales (Francisco Mendoza 87′)
5 Patricio Araujo
18 Xavier Báez
8 Marco Fabián (Gonzalo Pineda 52′)
10 Alberto Medina (Sergio Ávila 72′)
27 Carlos Ochoa
DT Efraín Flores

Atlas

21 Pedro Hernández
30 Darwin Chávez
16 Hugo Ayala
53 Néstor Vidrio
23 Eduardo Rergis
19 César Ibañez
18 Darío Botinelli
8 Lucas Ayala
9 Gonzalo Vargas
17 Jorge Achucarro
11 Bruno Marioni
DT Darío Franco

It started out with our rivals/roomates Atlas. Previously we had come from a 1-1 draw with America that had left us on level terms with our old rivals and it was necessary to win the game to keeps hopes alive to qualify for the next round of the Interliga.

We had done well in the pre-season and now it was time to get the ball rolling.

In the 20th minute we saw ourselves up in the scoreline after an Atlas defender stuck his had in the are. Ramoncito Morales neatly put the ball into the back of the net for the 1st goal of the night. He had a great game.

Unfortunately, in the 75th Atlas equalized via Marioni after Michel had pushed away a previous shot. They were equal.

The 77th minute gave us excitement. “Gaucho” Avila has ups and downs but this play was a high. He came from the right, took two defenders off his back, and gave to Ochoa to score. Exciting, exciting! Hopefully he keeps that level and we will have a killer player. And remember, he’s still young.

In the 83rd Avila again made his way with Ochoa and gave the assist for the 3rd goal. Ochoa took it, saw the keeper on his own and coolly shot the ball into the goal as if he were doing it just for fun.

This a good start to a new season. I think our team is working well together and the defense seems at ease. Michel has been performing well despite his long absence, although we’ve got Hugo Hernandez and he is a good back up.

Our next game is against Tigres on January 9th at the Home Depot Center, home of our sister team Chivas USA / The LA Galaxy.

1-1 against America and 3-1 against Atlas…not bad for the first Classico’s of the early, early season.