The panorama turned ant-colored for Gabriel Milito on the Guadalajara bench. What began as a tantrum by the Argentine helmsman against the darts of the press ended up becoming a perfect storm, after FC Dallas completely exposed the shortcomings of its squad and threw it out of the Leagues Cup at the first opportunity with an ice cold 1-0.
The Sacred Flock has finished its run on Texan soil and will return to Verde Valle dragging the blanket, with suitcases full of doubts and a locker room that burns with pure pressure.
The display of the Guadalajara squad left more doubts than certainties, confirming that the supposed interest they had in the binational tournament was pure mirage. Unlike the game against LAFC —where they at least rescued the tie and fell 5-4 on penalties—, this time the harvest was an absolute misery.
The Chivas left empty-handed and bags full of claims from the home of the Texan team.
The 'Ant' is weightless and the gunpowder is more than wet
But fasten your seatbelts, because the serious thing is not the defeat itself, but the ineffective play of a team that walks on the field without a compass or punch. It was of no use that Milito sent his trusted man in the attack, Armando “Hormiga” González, from the start.
It seems that the youth player's scoring magic has run out since he returned from his adventure with the Mexican National Team in the 2026 World Cup; The gunpowder is completely wet and the Guadalajara team is paying for it in blood.
With this new disaster on American soil, Guadalajara cannot shake off the malaria or the terrible image that it carries year after year in this tournament. They left forgotten the enormous moral and commercial commitment that the “Sacred Flock” has with its millions of countrymen in the American Union, who once again paid a ticket to see their team give grief to others.
One point out of six: the numbers of shame
The cold and lapidary statistics of this edition of the Leagues Cup do not lie and reveal reality: a measly point out of six possible. This completely exposes the brutal lack of rhythm of a team that in local tournaments sells the idea of being a candidate for the title in Mexico, but that crosses the border and freezes its chest.
The Chivas broke down badly on the field. “Hormiga” González was seen out of rhythm, losing the tactical map and getting in the way of Roberto “Piojo” Alvarado's offensive routes. To make matters worse, when he had his own, he arrived late to the appointment with the gajos, missing plays of those that are easier to make than to send to the stands.
Romo's indifference and Texan thrust
FC Dallas smelled blood and reacted to the lukewarm Mexican stance. They first warned in the 24th minute with a dripping shot from Kaick Ferreira, and then in the 34th minute with a header from Nolan Norris that roofed the red and white goal. Chivas did not understand the warnings and preferred to continue sailing in the sea of roe.
Dallas smelled the fear, tightened the screws on the brand and closed the lines. The lopsided nail was placed by Luis Romo, who continues to play with a lack of care that borders on the worrying, giving away balls in burning areas.
The sin was paid dearly in the 72nd minute: Santiago Moreno recovered a gift from the Guadalajara defense and set up Logan Farrington. The MLS offensive controlled at will and slapped it close to the post to sign the final 1-0.
Chivas' run in the United States is over and Milito will have to return to Verde Valle to eat his pride alive, because the criticism that bothers him so much is just beginning and that has now intensified to the point of making him think if it wouldn't have been better to accept the offer to lead River Plate.
