A sleeping giant has awakened. That was how some headlines greeted Tuesday’s victory by the Guadalajara Chivas in the final of the CopaMx, the second most important competition on the Mexican soccer calendar.

To win their first trophy in nine years, the Chivas had to travel to Leon, who were playing in their home stadium in front of 28,000 fiercely vocal fans. It was a daunting task for a team that have languished in the lower depths of the league for the past few seasons. 

But Chivas have been a completely different proposition since Argentine coach Matias Almeyda took charge of the team in mid September.  An early victory over Mexico City rivals America set the tone, and the players have responded magnificently with a series of excellent performances.    The winning goal in Tuesday’s CopaMx final was scored by Oswaldo Alanis, a 26-year-old from Morelia who has made one appearance for the national team.

Following the final whistle on Tuesday evening, some 1,500 fans partied at Guadalajara’s Minerva fountain, where a giant screen had been installed. On Thursday afternoon, Chivas players showed off the Copa Mx trophy in an open-top bus parade along various city streets and avenues.