Miguel Gómez's Late Heroics Salvage a Point for Chivas Against FC Juárez
Chivas de Guadalajara managed to avoid defeat in Liga MX action as defender Miguel Gómez found the back of the net in the 80th minute to secure a 1-1 draw against FC Juárez on Saturday night. The late equalizer came as a much-needed response after former Chivas striker Ángel Zaldívar had put the home side ahead.
The result comes at a crucial time for Gerardo Espinoza's squad, who entered the match looking to bounce back following their elimination from the Champions Cup at the hands of rivals América. With this draw, El Rebaño Sagrado remains in tenth position in the Clausura 2025 standings with 16 points, holding onto the final Play-In qualification spot by a narrow margin.
For the 22-year-old Gómez, the timing of his first-ever Liga MX goal couldn't have been more perfect. Remarkably, his strike came on Chivas' first shot on target of the entire match, demonstrating the team's struggles to create clear scoring opportunities throughout much of the contest.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernández was in the starting lineup and played 89 minutes for Chivas, though he was unable to find the scoresheet on this occasion. The Mexican legend's experience will be vital as the Rojiblancos navigate the remaining fixtures of the tournament.
FC Juárez, meanwhile, moved to 18 points with the draw and currently sits in eighth place in the table. Despite missing the opportunity to secure all three points at home, Bravos will be relatively satisfied with their position as the season progresses.
The pressure now mounts for Chivas as they face the possibility of dropping out of the Play-In positions altogether. If Pumas UNAM manages to defeat Rayados this Sunday, Espinoza's men would find themselves on the outside looking in with just a handful of matches remaining in the regular season.
Looking ahead, Chivas faces a daunting challenge as they prepare to host league leaders Cruz Azul next weekend in Matchday 13. Adding to the difficulty, the match will be played behind closed doors at Estadio Akron due to a suspension stemming from previous incidents of violence at the venue, depriving the team of their passionate home support during this critical encounter.
