Pachuca and Chivas keep hopes alive with lively draw in the Torneo Apertura
PACHUCA, MEXICO – the 1‑1 draw between Pachuca and Chivas on AUGUST 29, 2026 (August 29, 2026) at Hidalgo Stadium means both sides collect a point, keeping their Torneo Apertura 2026 campaigns alive. Roberto Alvarado opened the scoring for the visitors, while a late penalty by Salomón Rondón restored parity.
First half sees Chivas take early lead
Hugo Camberos burst forward, beating Carlos Sanchez before delivering a cross that found Roberto Alvarado, who tapped the ball into an empty net to give Chivas a 1‑0 lead inside the first three minutes. The match took place in Pachuca, Mexico, in front of a majority of Chivas fans. Efrain Alvarez later lobbed a shot over goalkeeper Carlos Moreno, but defender Sergio Barreto cleared the danger with a header. A sliding tackle from Santiago Sandoval prevented a one‑on‑one for the home side, and Kenedy’s left‑footed effort was deflected wide.
Both sides face tough away games
Chivas dominated the first half, creating the majority of chances, while Pachuca struggled to find rhythm. The visitors’ early advantage reflected their superior play, and the half ended with Chivas holding a deserved lead. The second half saw Pachuca surge; after a series of substitutions, Salomón Rondón stepped up to convert a penalty awarded for a foul on Nicolás Vallejo, restoring the score to 1‑1. Both sides continued to press, with Francisco Venegas forcing a save from Chivas keeper Raúl Rangel and Brian Gutierrez testing Moreno with a right‑footed strike. The match concluded without further goals.
Both clubs now travel north for their next fixtures. Pachuca will face last‑placed FC Juárez on the road, while Chivas head to Atletico San Luis seeking an away point.
Chivas supporters may be disappointed after the draw, having previously crushed Xolos de Tijuana but then reverting to a pattern of scoring only one goal per Apertura match. The team’s “pretty but inefficient” attacking style will need refinement if points are to be secured.
Pachuca’s performance showed resilience after conceding early, and the side will look to build on the point as they aim to climb the Liga MX table. Image credit: Getty Images.