Cruz Azul Vs Guadalajara ends 2-1 as leader’s unbeaten run snapped
In cruz azul vs guadalajara, Cruz Azul beat Chivas 2-1 in a fiery match that ended the leader’s perfect record and featured two headed goals, one at the 85th minute. The game combined aggressive play, tactical shifts and a packed sequence of decisive moments over nearly 100 minutes of action.
Cruz Azul Vs Guadalajara: decisive moments and scoring
Cruz Azul took a 1-0 lead in the first half through 'El Toro' Fernández, who registered his sixth goal against Chivas. Chivas equalized from the bench when Brian Gutiérrez combined with Ricardo Marín; Marín’s delivery found the header by 'El Cuate' Sepúlveda to make it 1-1. The match-winner came at minute 85 when Charly Rodríguez connected with another header from an assist by Agustín Palavecino, who had also set up the opening goal.
Tactical switches, substitutions and on-field tensions
The first half was tightly contested and produced small scuffles amid constant contact; referee Maximiliano Quintero issued seven yellow cards in the first 45 minutes. After falling behind, Chivas moved from a five-man defensive line to a line of four; Hugo Camberos replaced José Castillo and Brian Gutiérrez came on for Efrain Álvarez. Nicolás Larcamón reorganized his Cruz Azul side to meet the threats posed by Gabriel Milito’s team. Observers noted Hugo Camberos’ apparent recovery and Brian Gutiérrez’s verticality, a trait Javier Aguirre has admired.
Players, assessments and referee note
Diego Campillo reflected on the contrast between shutting down a player he described as in athletic decline — Henry Martín — and facing the sustained power of the Uruguayan 'El Toro' Fernández, saying the result was not solely Campillo’s fault. Willer Ditta was singled out for an outstanding defensive night for Cruz Azul. The match extended into what commentators called nearly 100 minutes of intense football, and the sequence of cards and confrontations produced no lasting incidents beyond the bookings.
Standings, schedule claims and historical context
Preview material in the provided context listed the fixture as part of Jornada 7 of the Clausura 2026 and placed the match on Saturday 21 February at Estadio Cuauhtémoc; that same preview said Cruz Azul sat second with 13 points from four wins and had beaten Tigres in its previous match, while Chivas led the table with 18 points and a perfect record after a Clásico Nacional victory over América. The preview noted a five-point gap between the teams and said Cruz Azul had four consecutive home wins over the Rebaño in Liga MX, keeping Guadalajara scoreless in two of those meetings. The last time Chivas won in a visit to Cruz Azul was in Clausura 2022 when Cristian 'Chicote' Calderón scored. The context contains a venue discrepancy: the match report places the action in Los Angeles, while the preview lists Estadio Cuauhtémoc — unclear in the provided context.
Media notes and reactions
A segment on Futbol Picante highlighted the 2-1 result: Desirée Monsiváis emphasized the victory and said the Rebaño lacked finishing in a 2: 14 segment. The preview content also included a disclosure that it had been generated with artificial intelligence and supervised by the TUDN team. A page header in the provided context noted that a visitor had reached the Deportes edition and was offered the option to remain on that edition or switch to a preferred edition.
The context lists the scheduling information for Jornada 7 of the Clausura 2026 as Saturday 21 February at Estadio Cuauhtémoc; that date and fixture listing is the next confirmed item in the provided material.
