Chicharito, New Stadium & A Copa Libertadores final – Good Fortnight for Chivas Guadalajara

Chivas Guadalajara rounded off a memorable ten days in the history of the club by becoming only the second ever Mexican team to qualify for the 2010 Copa Libertadores final. Goals from Xavier Baez and Jonny Magallon handed Chivas a 2-0 semi final second leg win in Santiago against Universidad de Chile, and a 3-1 aggregate scoreline that sends Chivas into the final of the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history.

The win caps a fortnight to remember for Chivas supporters after a spell during which the club left the Estadio Jalisco, their home for 50 years, moved into a brand new stadium, the Estadio Omnilife, and christened it with a 3-2 win over Manchester United.

Chivas Guadalajara are one of the most popular clubs in Mexico - the most popular depending on who you ask – and are famous for a strict policy of only fielding Mexican players. The eleven that took to the field in Santiago were superb, putting in a vibrant performance that fully merited the 2-0 final scoreline. In a hostile environment created by the passionate Universidad de Chile fans, whose pre-match pyrotechnics were a sight to behold, Chivas soon took hold of the game through their greater command of midfield and energy in attack.

Adolfo Bautista and Omar Bravo were livewires upfront, rendering the absence of injured striker Alberto Medina largely irrelevant, while goalscorer Baez dictated the midfield superbly. La ‘U’ for the most part struggled to get a hold of the game, but when they did Chivas keeper Luis Ernesto Michel was equal to everything thrown at him, making some fine saves to keep his team in front.

At the other end of the pitch Miguel Pinto, Universidad de Chile’s keeper had a nightmare for the first goal, doing his best Robert Green impression in allowing Baez’s long-range effort to dribble through his arms in the first half. Pinto redeemed himself to a certain extent thereafter with some solid saves, but the damage was done. When he parried a Jonny Magallon header straight back into the path of the Mexican in the 54th minute, Magallon, who was excellent throughout, made no mistake, smashing in the rebound from close range to put the tie beyond La ‘U’.

Similar to their opponents, Universidad de Chile had never made it to the Copa Libertadores final prior to this game, losing their two previous semi finals in 1970 and latterly 1996, when denied a place in the grand final by Argentina’s River Plate. After earning a 1-1 draw in Mexico, La ‘U’ – nicknamed the Owls – continued their mediocre home record in the Copa Libertadores 2010 with a second consecutive defeat.

Jose Contreras and Rafael Olarra both hit the woodwork late in the first half, but an inability to cut out the supply line to Chivas’ dynamic attackers saw them concede chance after chance. 2-0 was a conservative scoreline based on their performance.

Chivas Guadalajara therefore make it to their first ever Copa Libertadores final, where they will play either Internacional or Sao Paulo, both of Brazil. They also continue their 100% record in Chile for Copa Libertadores matches – now played 3, won 3.

Omnilife

It all comes hot on the heels of a period of great upheaval for Chivas, who moved out of the Estadio Jalisco and into the newly built Estadio Omnilife on 30th July 2010. The Estadio Omnilife is the brainchild of Mexican businessman and Chivas owner Jorge Vergara, who commissioned the stadium’s construction in 2004. The concept of naming rights has obviously translated to Mexico, with the stadium named after Vergara’s own nutritional company.

Coming at a cost of $126 million (USD) and with a seating capacity of 45,500, the Estadio Omnilife is a magnificent construction, despite it resembling a spaceship that just landed on a hill from the outside. To celebrate the inauguration of the new stadium, Chivas played host to Manchester United whose newly signed striker Javier Hernandez was signed from the Guadalajara club.

‘Chicharito’ Hernandez played the first half of that friendly for his former club, and fittingly for a player so unanimously popular with the Chivas faithful, became the first player to score at the new stadium – against his new club! Hernandez received a rapturous reception from the home supporters in an emotional farewell, before switching sides and embarking on a new chapter of his career with the Red Devils.

An awe-inspiring fireworks display prior to the United game provided the backdrop for Chivas Guadalajara as they begin a new era at their new stadium. Similar sparklers in Santiago ensure that one of Chivas’ first meaningful games at the Estadio Omnilife will be a first ever Copa Libertadores final and an opportunity to make history. New stadiums, devoid of any great moments, tend to have that not-quite-lived-in feel to them in the early years. Chivas have an early chance to really make it feel like home.

(pic #1 via ULE_TJ on Flickr)

(pics #2 & 3 via Daniel Arechiga on Flickr)

Chile, Chivas Guadalajara, Copa Libertadores, Football in Latin America, Mexico, Universidad de Chile