Armando “Hormiga” Gonzalez, with a brace, once again sent a message to Javier Aguirre urging him to call him up to the Mexican national team for the 2026 World Cup. His brace helped Chivas secure a 3-0 victory over Santos Laguna, but the highlight was Ricardo Marin's exquisite backheel goal that sealed the win.

A scoreline that was a bargain for the team from La Comarca and demonstrated that the Sacred Flock is still on fire and on a winning streak heading into the playoffs with its eighth victory of the tournament. This win has allowed them to overcome the slight slump they experienced with losses to Cruz Azul and Toluca in matchdays 7 and 8, which, along with the pending match against Leon next Wednesday, could yield even more benefits for the team managed by Argentine Gabriel Milito.

Chivas showed no weaknesses against the bottom-ranked team in the competition, He knew that any distraction could be fatal, especially since, with the absence of the suspended Daniel Aguirre, he had to change his playing style from a five-man backline to a four-man defense and repeat the double striker formation with Angel Sepulveda, which once again gave Chivas greater attacking power.

Guadalajara was superior because they knew how to move their pieces flexibly, allowing Omar Govea and Fernando “Oso” Gonzalez to easily connect with Roberto Alvarado and Efrain Alvarez, and these in turn with Sepulveda and “La Hormiga” Gonzalez up front.

The formula worked because Chivas was able to have great offensive versatility, to the point that Armando Gonzalez scored the first goal in the 11th minute when “La Hormiga” capitalized on a rebound to push the ball into the net, putting Chivas ahead.

After that, more opportunities arose, taking advantage of the ease with which Richard Ledezma and Bryan Gonzalez got down the wings, which allowed Sepulveda and Gonzalez to have chances to increase the lead.

advantage, but Carlos Acevedo's performance prevented further damage.But they say the pitcher goes to the well so often that it breaks, and right at the 30-minute mark, Armando Gonzalez once again appeared at the far post to finish off the play and nestle the ball into the net, giving Santos Laguna a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish for the remainder of the match. Santos Laguna could have pulled one back, but Luis Gomez, in a one-on-one with Chivas goalkeeper Raul “Tala” Rangel, allowed the keeper to parry the ball away as he attempted a chip, thus ending any chance for the Laguna side. In the second half, Chivas maintained the pressure on the Santos Laguna goal and squandered several more scoring opportunities until, in the 90th minute, substitute Ricardo Marin capitalized on a cross from the left by “Cotorra” Gonzalez, backheeling the ball past Santos Laguna goalkeeper Acevedo, who couldn't reach it. It was a truly spectacular goal, a real gem of a strike from the young Chivas forward, signaling the final score. 3-0.