Pachuca clawed back from an early deficit to snatch a 1-1 tie against Chivas last night in the Torneo Apertura 2026 Liga MX. What started with the visiting Chivas side dominating the first half, even with a majority of their fans packing Hidalgo Stadium, turned into a wild, back-and-forth battle that saw Pachuca assert their will in the second.
Chivas Came Out Firing, and Roberto Alvarado Made Them Pay
The energy for Chivas was undeniable from the jump. Hugo Camberos made a phenomenal run, blowing past Carlos Sanchez, and sent a cross right past Pachuca’s goalkeeper, Carlos Moreno. Who was there to tap it into an empty net? None other than Roberto Alvarado, giving Chivas that crucial 1-0 lead. It wasn’t just the goal, though. Chivas kept the pressure on. Efrain Alvarez lobbed a shot that defender Sergio Barreto miraculously headed off the line. Santiago Sandoval got into the box for a one-on-one chance before Sanchez slid in with a clutch tackle. The game got physical, too, with Cristian Rivera picking up a yellow card after a harsh foul on Ricardo Marin. Chivas went into halftime with a deserved lead, and Pachuca fans had to be sweating.
Pachuca Fights Back: Substitutions, Saves, and a Late Penalty Drama
The second half was a completely different story. Neither team made changes at the break, but Pachuca came out with serious fire. Francisco Venegas unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from outside the area, forcing Chivas keeper Raul Rangel into a big save. Kenedy followed up with a volley that went wide. Then the substitutions started rolling in. Chivas brought in Brian Gutierrez for Efrain Alvarez, while Pachuca subbed Alan Bautista for Rodolfo Pizarro. The fresh legs started paying off, especially for Gutierrez, who had a great right-footed shot saved by Moreno. Pachuca really started to push, with Andres Arroyo and Nicolas Vallejo coming on for Elias Montiel and Oussama Idrissi. The pressure finally boiled over when Salomon Rondon got a head on a cross, only for Rangel to make another fantastic save. But then, the moment arrived: Vallejo got into the area and was dropped by a foul from Miguel Gomez, earning Pachuca a penalty.
Both Pachuca and Chivas are hitting the road next week, heading north for their next matchups. Pachuca takes on FC Juarez, and Chivas goes up against Atletico San Luis. After a tie this lively, you know both teams will be fired up to prove who can close out a game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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