Yesterday afternoon was a more than positive rehearsal for Guadalajara, who took advantage of the friendly match against León in Chicago to fine-tune details of their performance ahead of the 2025 Apertura. Beyond the victory, there was one name that took center stage and was key to the Rebaño's comeback at SeatGeek Stadium.
From midfield, Erick Gutiérrez took charge of Chivas, both in terms of ball movement and pressure and retreat in defense. As if that weren't enough, "Guti" was the mastermind behind the two goals that made the Rojiblanco team's fans in the stands go wild, as he was involved in the final pass before each goal.
As mentioned above, the Sinaloa native participated in all phases of the game, setting the tone for when the Guadalajara team needed to take action. The Rebaño's number 15 also served as an outlet against the pressure from La Fiera, showing up to receive and release, or to pull defenders and thus open up new spaces in midfield.
Beyond moving the ball, Gutiérrez reminded everyone of his great individual technique in the 24th minute when, without hesitation, he volleyed a rebound that passed just a few centimeters from the crossbar. And it was his incorporation into the offensive phase that ended up paying off for Guadalajara at the end of the game.
In Armando González's goal, 'Guti' had the virtue of fighting inside the area like another striker against the strong marking of the defense, managing to prolong the ball long enough for 'Hormiga' to shoot, thus equalizing the match.
However, it wasn't enough, and a few minutes later, he made a pinpoint pass to Cade Cowell, who was running between two defenders, giving 'Vaquero' the advantage to beat Alfonso Blanco and complete a comeback that the Chiva Nation of Illinois will never forget.
Looking ahead to what lies ahead for the Rebaño Sagrado, there is no doubt that Erick Gutiérrez's contribution will be vital, as demonstrated at SeatGeek Stadium.
