guadalajara - américa: Chivas win Clásico Nacional 1-0 as Armando González seals perfect start
Chivas edged América 1-0 at Estadio Akron on Saturday, February 14 at 10: 07 p. m. ET, with Armando González netting the decisive goal to extend Guadalajara's flawless run in the Clausura.
Match decisive moment and player impact
Armando González continued his rich vein of form, heading home at the 41st minute from a corner that was flicked on into the box. The forward's finish at the far post proved enough to separate the sides in a match that reflected Chivas' control for long stretches. González has now scored in back-to-back Clásicos and registered his fifth goal of the Clausura, underlining his importance to a side that began the season with high expectations.
América struggled to create clear chances all evening and looked toothless in the final third. The absence of a key wide attacker, who was ruled out after aggravating a prior issue, was noticeable and limited the visitors' ability to stretch a compact Chivas defense. The home team defended with discipline and relied on quick, vertical transitions to threaten on the break.
Standings, implications and context
The victory pushed Chivas to an unblemished start through six rounds, leaving them with 18 points and in control of the top of the table. The result keeps manager Gabriel Milito's side on course for one of the club's best starts in recent memory; they sit two wins shy of matching the franchise record set in the Bicentenario 2010 campaign.
For América, the loss halted a short run of momentum and left them midtable with eight points. The team will need to sharpen its attacking output if it hopes to climb the table, particularly while key personnel manage fitness concerns. The tactical opening created by Chivas' midfield compactness forced América into low-percentage final actions.
Lineups and what to watch next
Chivas started with Raúl Rangel in goal behind a back four of Diego Campillo, José Castillo, Daniel Aguirre and Bryan González. Midfield roles included Richard Ledezma, Omar Govea and Rubén González, with Efraín Álvarez, Roberto Alvarado and Armando González leading the attack.
América lined up with Luis Malagón in goal and a backline of Sebastián Cáceres, Israel Reyes, Cristian Borja and Kevin Álvarez. Rodrigo Dourado and Jonathan Dos Santos anchored midfield, flanked by Isaías Violante, Víctor Dávila, Brian Rodríguez and Henry Martín up front.
Looking ahead, Chivas will aim to maintain the perfect run and keep pressure on title contenders, while América must regroup quickly to arrest a slide in attacking efficiency and protect its ambitions in both domestic and international competitions.
