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MEXICO CITY — In a match defined by its shifting momentum and high-stakes drama, Guadalajara Chivas stunned U.N.A.M. Pumas with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Sunday night. The contest hung in the balance until deep into stoppage time, when Diber Cambindo Aguirre’s stoppage-time strike completed a second-half comeback that may reverberate across the Liga MX Apertura campaign.

The evening had begun with a restless energy lingering inside the stadium, both teams acutely aware of what the three points would mean at the midpoint of the season. Pumas, riding the early season’s promise, looked set to consolidate their position among the league’s elite. Chivas, meanwhile, arrived with ambitions of their own, seeking to ignite a late surge toward playoff relevance.

After a nervy opening forty-five minutes, marked by cautious buildup and midfield scuffles — including a yellow card shown to Chivas’s Óscar Govea in the 32nd minute for a reckless challenge — the match found its rhythm only after the break.

It was Pumas who first seized the initiative. In the 48th minute, Pedro Vite latched onto a loose ball just outside the penalty area and drilled a low shot that eluded Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel. The goal sent the home crowd into rapture, and for the moment, seemed to tilt the field decisively in favor of Pumas. The hosts pressed their advantage, pressing high and testing Guadalajara’s ability to respond under pressure.

But just seven minutes later, Chivas found their answer. A crisp exchange down the right flank involving Erick Álvarez unlocked the Pumas defense, and his measured cross found Antonio González making a surging run into the area. González met the pass with authority, steering his shot past Julio González to level the match in the 55th minute. The goal, Chivas’s first meaningful foray forward of the half, shifted the mood on and off the pitch. Both teams sensed the match was suddenly there to be seized.

The intensity ratcheted higher. Chivas midfielder Bryan González found himself in the referee’s book in the 53rd minute for a tactical foul, moments before his side’s equalizer. Substitutions soon followed as both managers sought to tilt the field. Chivas coach Fernando Gago introduced Sebastián Sandoval in the 66th minute, looking to inject fresh legs, while Pumas countered ten minutes later with the double introduction of Juan Macías and Alan Medina in an effort to regain midfield control.

As the match moved into its final quarter, the urgency was palpable. Pumas manager Gustavo Lema sent on Adalberto Carrasquilla in the 81st minute, seeking creativity in attack, while Chivas responded with a flurry of substitutions: Jesús Castillo, Rodrigo Ledezma, and, moments later, the influential Álvarez was rested after his earlier assist. Francisco González also entered late, as the visitors looked to maintain their balance in midfield.

Despite both sides’ best efforts, clear chances were few and far between as regulation time expired. Pumas, having lost much of their early composure, appeared content to settle for a draw, wary of Chivas’s increasingly sharp counterattacks.

But Chivas had other ideas. In the 90th minute, a swift move started by Bryan González in midfield found Diber Aguirre roaming just inside the penalty area. Aguirre, alert to the moment, took a precise first touch to set himself before hammering a decisive right-footed shot into the bottom corner. The finish was clinical, and the celebration from the traveling Chivas supporters told the story: this was not just three points, but a statement of renewed intent.

The final whistle brought an eruption from the Chivas bench, while Pumas players dropped to their knees, ruing a lost opportunity on home turf. For Pumas, the defeat may prompt a period of introspection; their season, once defined by early optimism, now faces more searching questions in the weeks ahead.

For Chivas, the triumph is more than a single victory. It is a testament to resilience and belief — qualities that may yet define their campaign. With goals from Antonio González and Diber Aguirre, and a pivotal performance from Erick Álvarez, Guadalajara announced themselves anew in the Liga MX chase, leaving Mexico City with both the scoreline and the story in their favor.