Club América and Guadalajara played to a 2-2 draw in an intense Clásico Nacional during Jornada 9 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament. Played on September 19, 2026, at Estadio Banorte, the match featured a dominant first half by Guadalajara followed by a powerful second‑half comeback from América, capped by a brace from Colombian forward Miguel Borja.
Guadalajara Takes First‑Half Control
Guadalajara established command early in the match, building a two‑goal lead before halftime.
In the 33rd minute, Bryan González opened the scoring with a header following a cross from Omar Govea. Just before the interval at the 45+2 mark, Ricardo Marín capitalized on a rebound after an initial save by goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota, extending Chivas’ lead to 2‑0.
Entering the break, Guadalajara sat comfortably in control while América faced a steep deficit on home turf.
América’s Second‑Half Resurgence
América manager Guillermo Almada introduced Miguel Borja at halftime, a substitution that completely shifted the dynamic of the game.
Borja sparked the comeback in the 71st minute when he met a cross from Brian Rodríguez inside the box, finishing with an acrobatic bicycle kick past goalkeeper Tala Rangel to make it 2‑1.
Three minutes later, Henry Martín received the ball inside the area, shook off a defender, and set up Borja for a close‑range tap‑in, securing his second goal of the night and evening the score at 2‑2.
Both teams pushed for a winner during the frantic closing moments, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
Standings and Post‑Match Analysis
The draw leaves Guadalajara in second place in the Apertura 2026 standings with 17 points, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches with five wins and three draws. América sits closely behind in third place with 16 points.
Following the match, managers from both sides addressed the tactical shifts. Almada admitted ongoing defensive vulnerabilities, saying his squad is “committing some distractions in defense, which we have talked about in previous matches.” He praised his team’s improved second‑half performance and noted that América had chances to complete a full victory.
Guadalajara coach Diego Milito pointed to Borja’s entry as the turning point that disrupted his team’s control. “That gave them, of course, spirit. And well, we couldn’t have that control that we did have in the first part,” Milito said, adding that tactical adjustments and the substitution of Cotorro González impacted the Rojiblanco structure.
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