Wednesday, a packed Akron Stadium saw the Guadalajara Chivas and arch-rivals America slug it out to a dull 0-0 tie in the first-leg semi-final of the Liga Mx 2024 Clausura tournament.

The Chivas — Mexico’s most popular soccer team — are in touching distance of their first Liga Mx title since 2017.  The team is just one title short of America’s record of 14 crowns, which would make victory in this season’s semis especially meaningful for fans.

Wednesday evening’s much-anticipated game failed to live up to expectations. The teams canceled out each other in a dour midfield-concentrated duel, providing scant goal mouth action at either end. The introduction of Chivas striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez from the bench for the final ten minutes had no impact. Chivas’ Spanish coach Fernando Gago (a former Real Madrid star) has done well in his first season, but appears unimpressed by the 33-year-old Hernandez, who last year was brought back to the club where he made his name before going on to a stellar decade-long career in Europe and with the Mexican national team.  The criticism of the star signing has been fierce: “He’s more of a hindrance to Gago than a help,” prominent TV pundit David Faitleson said this week.

Chivas and America will lock horns in part two of the semi-final saga on Saturday, May 18 in the imposing Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.  America are the current Liga Mx champions, and the Azteca has become a fortress for the capital’s best supported team, where most opponents have been ruthlessly put to the sword in games over the past two seasons.

Chivas will start as underdogs on Saturday (kick-off at 8 p.m.) but their multitude of supporters will be keeping their fingers crossed, since the world’s most loved sport always  has a habit of throwing up surprises!  The winner will face either Cruz Azul or Monterrey in the final.