📝 Chivas Guadalajara 2 Toronto FC 1: Goats take lead in CCL final | OneFootball

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Blaise Bourgeois·18 April 2018

📝 Chivas Guadalajara 2 Toronto FC 1: Goats take lead in CCL final

Article image:📝 Chivas Guadalajara 2 Toronto FC 1: Goats take lead in CCL final

Alan Pulido’s bizarre free kick is enough to give Chivas a big advantage over Toronto FC heading back to Mexico for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final.

The match was very wide-open from the start and will leave fans salivating for the final match as the scoreline in this one could have been much higher.


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Rodolfo Pizarro gave Chivas the best possible start by scoring just 63 seconds into the contest. A beautiful dummy left Alex Bono rooted to his spot as Isaác Brizuela’s ball found Pizarro who struck the ball into the far corner to give Chivas a crucial away goal.

It wouldn’t take long for TFC to show their class and level the match. Jozy Altidore started the play out wide to Marky Delgado who hit a perfect ball across the six-yard box to Jonathan Osorio who made his far-post run pay off. Osorio has now scored in every round of the CCL knockout stages.

TFC had plenty of chances throughout the match to take the lead and probably deserved to do so. Just after the half-hour mark, TFC earned a free kick about 30 yards from goal. Giovinco stepped up and forced Miguel Jiménez to make a strong diving save, although Gio will wish he had done better.

Less than two minutes later, TFC nearly scored the best team goal of the tournament. Beautiful team play from back to front led to beautiful tic-tac-toe football in the box and Altidore really should have found the back of the net at the end. Credit to Jiménez to bravely coming off his line to deny the effort.

Just before the half-time whistle, Giovinco and Altidore connected once again for TFC. Jiménez made an amazing leg save on Altidore after an incredible backheel nutmeg by Gio gave Jozy space to shoot from 12 yards.

Chivas would eventually get their winner in the 72nd minute through Alan Pulido. Whether he meant to cross or shoot his free kick from the wing is irrelevant as the goal means Toronto will have to score at least two goals next week in Mexico to have a chance.

TFC had a huge penalty shout late as Giovinco was taken down in the box with the referee right there to make the decision. There’s no VAR in the CCL, but perhaps the result would have been different if there had been after seeing the replay.

The second leg will take place at the Estadio Akron next Wednesday. Mexican teams have won all nine CONCACAF Champions League titles. TFC are just the third MLS club to ever make the final.