The cold objective analysis is that they weren't favorites for any of the Mexican match-ups. They definitely have the ability to win, but they weren't favorites. Not even against Chivas who are very sound defensively and a great transition team.
Games between Chivas and Atlas are huge in Guadalajara. It's the local derby and the oldest rivalry game in Mexican soccer. For most Tapatios (people born in Guadalajara) this game is more important than the Super Clasico against America. With that said, Chivas will play youth with bench players. Chivas is focused solely on the Toronto game.
Chivas and Toronto are 90 minutes away from having the honor of entertaining me at Zayed Sports City on December 15.
Baloney. Toronto was clearly favored to win in Toronto and win the series. But they didn't and it now looks like they won't win the series. That's the cold objective analysis and that's how sports go. The better team doesn't always win. And as fans, sometimes we engage in a bit of revisionism to make us feel better about the loss.
I'm guilty. After watching both teams play for the past month. I would have bet against Chivas having 2 goals in them.
Favorites in Toronto yes. Guadalajara? No. They have yet to win in Mexico which was always a tall order even for TFC. Winning in Mexico is very hard but while they can win in the US and Canada. Home results was always going to be a huge factor. "Clearly favorites" isn't being objective in my opinion, however they "clearly had the most momentum". For those who answered my question on another thread on Bono's status with the national team and if he was close or not, now I see why.
The win-away & go for 0-0 at home is something Chivas has pulled a few times in Libertadores. They're one of those teams with a bad record at home and a good record away.
This year's CCL title is basically Chiva's now because Toronto's definitely not winning in Guadalajara. I guess for MLS teams, that old adage applies: "Hope springs eternal."
It looks like they'll go 2 - 1 against Mexican teams this season, ironically losing to by far the worst team.
Not completely shocking. TFC went into the home and aways in which they knew they were up against it prepapred to fight for 90 for any little advantage, and that's what it takes to beat a very good side. They went into this match, not saying they were bad but maybe too confident. Chivas are still a very good side.
If Chivas wins the tournament this year, there will really be an odd hodgepodge of results. On the one hand you'd have TFC over Tigres, TFC over America, and NYRB over Tijuana. On the other you'd have Tauro over Dallas, and the second worst team in Liga MX taking out 3 MLS teams including the greatest MLS team ever. No matter what happens in the next couple years of CCL, this tournament will probably be used as a data point to support a narrative.
The sad thing is that it all will end as usual: with the MX team getting punked by the Asian or African club in the CWC.
America and Pachuca were good teams. This Chivas is not. They'd have to play again as they did in Toronto, and that's not going to happen.
If it's this same Chivas team I'd agree, but there are a lot of potential changes between now and December. They do have a few kids that seem like they could develop into decent players. Here's hoping it's moot because Toronto gets the remontada.
Oh man that is true, if they win, ChivasMX will be the MLS killer this year, I had not thought about that.
I don't know, this Chivas team is not going to be as "creido" as the other LigaMX teams that play in the CWC. So they may do well against "lesser" confederation teams. This Chivas team kind of reminds me of Auckland FC in the CWC, everyone expects very little of them, but they play hard and give favorite teams problems.
There are strong rumors that they may break the broken piggy bank to bring Chicharito to Guadalajara after the world cup if Chivas wins
The fans takes it very seriously too #FOTO 📸Alrededor de 500 personas formadas para comprar boletos para la final entre @Chivas y @torontofc pic.twitter.com/LQ3bVXFivJ— Universal Deportes (@UnivDeportes) April 23, 2018
They were the favorite, and they choked up a big turd in game 1. Sucks to be them. Some don't handle the pressure of being favored very well.