Just one point separates Chivas from getting ever so close to where they were a year ago.
With a draw against Necaxa on Tuesday night at The Home Depot Center, Chivas will clinch a spot in Sunday's final Matchday. A victory there would send the club to Copa Libertadores for the second time in as many years.
Sort of.
One of Sunday's winners will qualify directly to Copa Libertadores and will be in Group 4 along with Brazilian power Corinthians, a club from Colombia, and one from Chile. The other, though, will be forced to play in a qualifying series against a Chilean team.
Sunday's winners will be designated Mexico 2 and Mexico 3 based on points in the group stage. Chivas are in first place in Group B with four points, the same total as Monterrey, who play Wednesday against Pachuca.
A year ago, Chivas took this same path to Copa Libertadores. After claiming one of the two spots in the 2005 finals, Chivas beat Chilean side Cienciano on an 8-2 aggregate to reach the Copa Libertadores.
When they take the pitch against Necaxa, Chivas will know the outcome of the Cruz Azul-Tigres game. But playing for a result to win the group is not what the club has in mind.
"First place in the group is very important for us because to play in another qualifying match would be very difficult," Chivas coach Hans Westerhof said.
Aside from the logistics of the game -- likely a Monday or Tuesday flight to South America for a Wednesday match and back to Mexico for a weekend league game -- Westerhof said the club will be shorthanded enough as it is.
"I think we have five or six or seven players could be gone to the national team at some point," Westerhof said. "That's a lot of games they would have to play."
Chivas have had some luck and plenty of goals on their side. Saturday, Chivas were awarded a favorable penalty down 2-1 to Cruz Azul with less than 10 minutes remaining. Adolfo Bautista drew the teams even when he converted the spot kick and Chivas escaped with a 2-2 draw as well as a much-needed point.
In the opening match against Tigres, Chivas won a 5-3 shootout in Westerhof's first game back as head coach of the club he guided to the Clausura 2004 final.
Against Tigres, a pair of players also made their debuts. Former Pumas standout Gonzalo Pineda and ex-Necaxa star Diego Martinez each have contributed mightily to Chivas' run. Pineda scored a goal against Tigres while Martinez sent a booming cross against Cruz Azul that eventually wound up in the back of the net.
"We felt we needed someone on the right side and someone on the left who could play as a wide midfielder but also as a holding midfielder as well," Westerhof said. "Diego (Martinez) was our No. 1 choice on the right side and Gonzalo (Pineda) on the left. The best ones came to Chivas and I am very pleased about that."
Necaxa, meanwhile, are looking to rebound after a poor defensive effort against Tigres. Against Cruz Azul, Necaxa's defense shined in a 1-0 win but Tigres shredded Necaxa's suddenly porous defense for three goals. Necaxa need a victory to secure a spot in Sunday's matches. A draw could send the club through but Cruz Azul would need to beat Tigres by no more than two goals.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to InterLiga.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the league or its clubs.
