Chivas Tie Everton, Advance To Libertadores Second Round

Chivas traveled to Chile to face Everton for their final Copa Libertadores group match. A win or a draw would be enough to get the flock through. A financial incentive of $50,000 wasn’t enough for Everton to win the game, and instead Chivas went through to the next round in second place of Group 6 and a 1-1 draw.

The game started off with Chivas dominating within the first minutes. Quickly, the team took advantage in the sixth minute and went up 1-0 with a goal from Javier ‘Chicharo’ Hernandez. He broke away with the ball and came up against the ‘keeper. ‘Chicharo’ chipped the ball and the score became 1-0.

Everton came close to leveling the score in the 17th minute when Jaime Eduardo Riveros took advantage of a free kick given away by Patricio Araujo with a handball. Chivas goalkeeper Luis Michel saved the shot, but sent it to the corner.

Marco Fabian came close to scoring in the 39th minute culminating in several minutes of Chivas attacks.

The Chilean side once again came close in added time as Ezequiel Miralles and Leandro Javier Delgado surged into the Chivas area forcing Michel into a double save.

Again, the teams left it early in the respective halves to score and in the 48th minute it was Everton that leveled the score. Aaron Galindo gave a free kick away outside the area, and quickly Riveros took it and caught Michel off guard to make it 1-1.

Right away Chivas responded as ‘Chicharo’ came close to scoring once more with a header, but Gustavo Dalsasso saved.

Alberto Medina had his own shot in the 69th minute, but his good run came to and end. He came up against Everton ‘keeper Dalsasso, but the ball went too far for him and he ended the play with a weak shot into the ‘keeper’s hands.  

Towards the end of the game Chivas were more easily losing the ball and it became more dangerous in the 86th minute when they lost it in their own half. Jose Luis Muñoz took advantage of the situation and sent a shot into the area, which hit the crossbar.

In the 88th minute things started to heat up and Gonzalo Pineda and Miralles were sent off the field with straight red cards. The argument started when "Penco" tried to head the ball out of Michel’s hands while he was holding it past the line. Chivas will be without Pineda’s services for the next game because of the red card.

Chivas manager Francisco ‘Paco’ Ramirez was happy with the win, but was worried with the draw.  

“We always have that pressure to get a result. The condition of Everton as the home team, and their push complicated it for us, but we knew that we had the obligation to win. That was our purpose, since the start because we couldn’t take chances,” said Ramirez. “It was very important for us to get the points on this day. The rivals had a similar competitive level to us, and we’re fortunate to continue (in the competition).”

Andrea Martinez, Goal.com

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