Club América trudged impatiently through much of the Clausura and waited for the conquerors of a year ago to finally emerge once more.
The former champions returned to the fore at the best possible time. América produced a vintage display to cast aside bitter rivals Chivas and secure a 4-0 victory at Estadio Omnilife on Sunday night.
América celebrated its triumph in Guadalajara as a result of a return to its principles and the predator instincts of Luis Gabriel Rey. The veteran poacher scored twice inside the opening 15 minutes before Raúl Jiménez and Luis Mendoza secure the points after the interval for the rampant visitors.
The entire performance offered the first substantial triumph in the Antonio Mohamed era. By relying on the wingbacks to propel the attack, the visitors tore apart the previously defiant Chivas rearguard and dealt José Luis Real’s side a stunning setback in its bid to return to the Liguilla.
Most of the signs were there from the outset as Rey grasped control for América with his double inside the first 15 minutes. Both goals were the product of the visitors’ endeavor from the start and their evident quality in the final third.
América claimed its opener after just 10 minutes with a sweeping move from right to left. Paul Aguilar switched the play toward Miguel Layún on left. Layún collected the accurate diagonal and played an inch-perfect, driven ball of his own through the Chivas goal area. The service eluded everyone until Rey popped up at the back stick to tap home the opener.
Luis Gabriel Rey's early double placed América on course for a staggering victory at Estadio Omnilife.
Moisés Muñoz protected the early advantage by tipping Aldo De Nigris’ header over the bar and then sparked the second shortly thereafter with a long clearance up field. Chivas failed to cope with the lump and left a clearing header for Rey to collect 25 yards from goal. Rey corralled the loose ball and then lashed it inside the near post to double Las Aguilas’ advantage.
Chivas improved after conceding twice and started to ask questions of the América defense. The home side enjoyed the majority of the possession for the remainder of the first half and used the width wisely to pull apart the condensed América shape.
The hard work should have yielded the equalizer on the half-hour. Tidy work in the buildup created an ideal opportunity for Jorge Enríquez, but the Chivas midfielder somehow screwed his diving header over the bar with the net gaping.
Any thoughts of a second-half revival ended shortly after play resumed when Jiménez grabbed the third after 56 minutes. Another wonderful diagonal transitioned the play to Layún out on the right. Layún cut inside and forced Jose Antonio Rodriguez to parry away. Rey produced another fine save when he collected the rebound, but Jimenez turned home his fourth goal in three Clásicos to essentially secure the points.
Mendoza applied a fine gloss to the evening’s work by clipping home the fourth after 74 minutes. Chivas made an absolute hash of a simple clearance and invited America to punish them once again. Mendoza duly obliged with a clever lob over the onrushing Rodriguez to complete the rout.
Chivas fans streamed toward the exits after Mendoza’s fourth and América’s wingback-fueled romp. They meandered through lengthy delays enter the building as a result of increased safety measures after the crowd violence at Estadio Jalisco a week ago, but the true angst came once they finally took their seats and watched America consolidate control in this rivalry in devastating fashion.
