Chivas managed to draw 1-1 in the ninety minutes of regulation against LAFC, but the collective effort was diluted in the penalty shootout for the extra point. Luis Romo, who returned with the title card after his recent World Cup experience, dressed as a villain in sudden death by taking the last shot with absolute indifference.
The versatile Guadalajara player handed the ball into the hands of goalkeeper Thomas Hasal and let go of a unit that was already in the red-and-white bag at the start of the 2026 Leagues Cup, but ended up giving away 5-3 in the penalty kicks in sudden death.
With this oversight, the eleventh Guadalajara team threw overboard the 90 minutes of hard work with which they rowed against the current. The outlook looked dark from the 38th minute, when the Franco-Gabonese striker Denis Bouanga pierced the red and white nets with a lethal shot.
The Angelina slap worked as an incentive for the chiverío. Those led by Gabriel Milito dominated the actions and the Guadalajara goal seemed to be a given before the debacle. But in football, when they catch you asleep, even snoring tastes great; LAFC smelled blood, capitalized on the defensive flicker and took the lead.
The Mexican reaction was immediate. Four minutes later, Roberto “Piojo” Alvarado – who has started the summer with a bang – tied the score. It was a collective painting by Guadalajara: precise touches, pure synchronicity and a cross definition by the “Piojo” that left the local goalkeeper static.
For the complement, Chivas brought ice and control to the match. However, each attempt and incursion into the rival area ended up dying in the gloves of a Hasal who withstood the downpour, forcing the duel to go to the lottery of eleven steps for the extra unit.
Already on the wall, Romo's error sealed the final 5-4 in favor of the locals. For LAFC, Bouanga himself, Tyler Boyd, Mathieu Choinière, Ryan Porteous and Jude Terry got it right, erasing Marco Delgado's previous error.
On the red and white side, Ricardo Marín, Alvarado, Brian Gutiérrez and Luis Rey did their homework; However, the mistakes of Kevin Castañeda and, above all, the apathy of Luis Romo who took the penalty as if he had no desire to play, ended up sentencing the red and white's fall.
