The curse of the league leaders struck again as Guadalajara Chivas, who finished top of the table, limped out in the first round of the playoffs following a frustrating goalless draw with Queretaro at the Omnilife stadium on Saturday.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Chivas failed to muster the win they needed to progress against the “Gallos Blancos,” who had gone into the tie as underdogs having finished eighth in the league and never before made the playoffs.
Since the Mexican season was divided into two championships in 1996, only two teams have ever gone on to win the title after topping the table at the end of the initial league phase.
Ironically, it was a Chivas player who brought about the club’s downfall. Goalkeeper Liborio Sanchez, who the Guadalajara side loaned to Queretaro for the season, pulled off a string of outstanding saves to deny his sometime-teammates the goal they so desperately needed.
Elsewhere, Morelia cruised through to the semi-finals with a second 2-1 win over Cruz Azul in as many weeks, while Tigres stuffed Pachuca 3-0 in Monterrey, having won the first leg 1-0 last Sunday.
Finally, Santos’ 2-1 win over Jaguares was enough to take them through to the last four with a 4-3 agregrate victory. Santos now face Morelia in this week’s semi-finals, while Queretaro are pitted against Tigres.
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