Guadalajara players and staff (pictured), with captain Carlos Salcido hoisted high with the trophy, celebrate after overcoming visiting Tigres to capture the Liga MX Clausura title on May 28, 2017, in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo: Gema Lugo/Straffon Images)
ZAPOPAN, Mexico – Guadalajara completed the double and earned its 12th Mexican league title with a 2-1 win over visiting Tigres in the second leg of the 2017 Liga MX Clausura on Sunday at the Estadio Civas, capturing the series 4-3 on aggregate.
CONCACAF.com takes a look at the action:
2017 LIGA MX CLAUSURA PLAYOFFS
Final, Second Leg
May 28, 2017: Estadio Chivas – Zapopan, Mexico (Att: 45,354)
Guadalajara-Tigres 2-1 (1-0)
Alan Pulido 17’; Jose Juan Vazquez 70’ / Ismael Sosa 88’
Guadalajara wins 2017 Liga MX Clausura title (agg: 4-3)
Guadalajara: Rodolfo Cota; Oswaldo Alanis, Carlos Salcido, Jair Pereira, Edwin Hernandez, Orbelin Pineda (Angel Zaldivar 90’+2), Jesus Sanchez, Jose Juan Vazquez, Nestor Calderon (Carlos Fierro 58’), Rodolfo Pizarro, Alan Pulido. Head Coach: Matias Almeyda
Tigres: Nahuel Guzman; Anselmo Vendrechovski “Juninho”, Hugo Ayala (Francisco Meza 65’), Alberto Acosta (Lucas Zelarayan 58’), Luis Rodriguez (Damian Alvarez 72’), Guido Pizarro, Jesus Dueñas, Javier Aquino, Jurgen Damm, Ismael Sosa, Andre-Pierre Gignac. Head Coach: Ricardo Ferretti
R: Luis Enrique Santander; AR1: Alberto Morin; AR2: Salvador Rodriguez; 4th: Jose Antonio Perez
- Similar to the first leg, Guadalajara took a 2-0 lead before Tigres launched a comeback bid. On this occasion, however, the defending champion couldn’t find the equalizer.
- For the second straight match, Alan Pulido scored the first goal against his old club. In the 17th minute, the 26-year-old forward volleyed in with his right foot from eight-yards out off a precise long ball played into the right side of the box by Oswaldo Alanis.
- Jose Juan Vazquez doubled Chivas’ advantage in the 70th minute, when a Tigres clearance landed at his feet 22 yards from goal. Without hesitation, the 29-year-old defensive midfielder unleashed a right-footed shot that deflected off Tigres’ Francisco Meza and beat goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman to his right.
- Ismael Sosa halved the deficit for Tigres in the 88th minute, taking a pass from Anselmo Vendrechovski “Juninho” and firing with his right foot from 20 yards beyond the reach of goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota, who was diving to his right.
- Tigres was issued five yellow cards, three of which came in the last seven minutes of normal time.
- Guadalajara prevailed over Morelia in the 2017 Copa MX Clausura final, 3-1 on penalty kicks, after a scoreless draw.
- Guadalajara last won the Mexican league title in the 2006 Apertura.
- Tigres was attempting to become the first back-to-back champion in Mexico since Leon (2013 Apertura; 2014 Clausura).
- Guadalajara and Tigres previously secured places in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
