Cruz Azul vs. Chivas: Semifinals Clash and Joel Huiqui Profile

The first leg of the Liga MX Clausura 2026 semifinal between Cruz Azul and Chivas ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The match took place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Estadio Banorte. This marked the final game at the venue before it was handed over to FIFA in preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.Heading into the semifinal, Chivas had finished second in the regular season, while Cruz Azul finished close behind in third. Chivas, managed by Gabriel Milito, reached this stage after an impressive comeback against Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals, an achievement made despite missing several key players who were called up to the Mexican national team's pre-World Cup camp. Cruz Azul, led by interim head coach Joel Huiqui, advanced to the semifinals by defeating Atlas FC.The match itself was packed with intense action. Chivas opened the scoring in the 29th minute when 18-year-old standout Santiago Sandoval capitalized on a rebound left by Cruz Azul's goalkeeper, Kevin Mier, following an initial shot by Ricardo Marín. Cruz Azul responded shortly after in the 37th minute. Midfielder Carlos "Charly" Rodríguez—a player highly regarded as a global statistical leader in "pre-assists" and progressive runs—scored a spectacular equalizer by chipping the ball over Chivas goalkeeper Oscar Whalley.Early in the second half, in the 49th minute, Chivas regained the lead. Miguel Gómez delivered an excellent cross that Ángel Sepúlveda headed into the net. Sepúlveda notably kept his celebration subdued out of respect for his former team. However, Cruz Azul equalized once again in the 55th minute. After a VAR review confirmed a foul on Christian Ebere inside the penalty box, the Nigerian forward stepped up and converted the penalty kick to seal the final score at 2-2.With the series evenly poised, the decisive second leg is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Estadio Jalisco. The match was moved to this venue because Chivas' usual home, the Estadio Akron, was also turned over for World Cup preparations. Heading into the second leg, Chivas holds a slight advantage; if the aggregate score remains tied, they will advance to the final due to their higher position in the regular-season standings.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/champions-network--6884663/support.