Chivas vs Necaxa 3–1: Youth Surge & Sandoval Shine Lift Guadalajara After Toluca Hangover

Chivas bounce back with a 3–1 win over Necaxa — goals from Santiago Sandoval, Armando González and Inda push them into Play-In contention. Full recap, stats & lineups.

Quick snapshot — Chivas vs Necaxa

Guadalajara (Chivas) overcame a sloppy start to beat Necaxa 3–1 at Estadio Akron on Matchday 10 of the 2025 Apertura, riding goals from young Santiago Sandoval González, Armando González, and Samir Inda to stop the bleeding after a heavy loss to Toluca.

Why Chivas vs Necaxa mattered this week

• After a humiliating 0–3 home defeat to Toluca, Chivas needed a response to prevent momentum loss and fan unrest.
• Necaxa, under returning coach Fernando Gago (formerly of Chivas), arrived in Zapopan looking to make a statement in a rivalry and prove his methods.
• The victory lifts Chivas closer to Play-In positions (i.e., playoff contention), making this a must-win for both morale and league math.
• The match showcased the rise of youth talent — especially Santiago Sandoval González, who now enters spotlight discussions in Guadalajara. (Transfermarkt)

 

 

Final score & key stats

• Final result: Chivas 3, Necaxa 1
• Goal sequence:
  1. Armando González (Chivas) — 33′
  2. Santiago Sandoval González (Chivas) — 44′
  3. Cristian Calderón (Necaxa) — 49′ (pulling one back)
  4. Samir Inda (Chivas) — stoppage time goal (90’+4)
• Possession & shots: Necaxa had a slight edge in possession (~54%), but Chivas were sharper in front of goal.
• Shots on goal / attempts: Chivas had 10 total shot attempts. (VAVEL.com – Live Sports)
• Lineup note: Santiago Sandoval started in attacking midfield for Chivas.

Lineups & tactical notes (Guadalajara vs. Necaxa)

Chivas probable XI (based on preview & match reports)

From the Chivas “best facts” preview and other match coverage:

• Goalkeeper: Raúl Rangel
• Defense / back line: Miguel Tapias, Luis Romo (captain), Diego Campillo, etc.
• Midfield / attack: José Castillo, Rubén González, Omar Govea, Bryan González, Santiago Sandoval González, Efraín Álvarez, plus Armando González in attacking roles.
• Coach: Gabriel Milito

Necaxa setup & context

• Coached by Fernando Gago, who returned to Mexico to take over Necaxa this season.
• The return of Gago brings narrative tension: a former Chivas coach facing his old club.
• Necaxa’s lineup changes, tactical approach, and depth are under scrutiny in such rivalry matches.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

How the match unfolded — by half

First half — Chivas dominate, Necaxa hold structure

Chivas came out aggressive. Armando González opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. Chivas kept applying pressure, and just before halftime Santiago Sandoval González added the second, finishing a move from inside the box. At 2–0 at the break, Chivas looked composed and in control.

Meanwhile, Necaxa held compact and tried to manage the spaces — not ideal against home side, but necessary to stay within reach.

Second half — Necaxa response & Chivas seal

Shortly after halftime, Necaxa’s Cristian Calderón struck in the 49th minute to pull one back and inject life into the contest.

But Chivas regained control. In stoppage time (90’+4), Samir Inda buried Chivas’s third, putting the result beyond doubt. (ESPN.com)

In between, Chivas managed transitions, controlled pace, and subs helped manage fatigue. Necaxa’s push felt too late to overturn the deficit.

Rising star: Santiago Sandoval González

• Profile & facts: Santiago Sandoval González is 18 years old (born August 7, 2007) and currently plays attacking midfield for Chivas U21 and now gets minutes in first team. (Transfermarkt)
• His goal in this match signals promise. It’s a big moment for a homegrown talent to score in a major Liga MX fixture.
• His youth and technical profile make him a player to watch in Guadalajara’s development pipeline.

Toca parar unos días, en nada dando guerra de nuevo.
🧠❤️💪🏻@deporguada pic.twitter.com/AKDxzA5dFv

— JorgeCasado (@JorgeCasado89) September 23, 2025

 

Coaching & tactical insight

• Milito’s response: After a brutal loss to Toluca (3–0), Milito needed a reaction. His tactical tweaks, injecting youth and balancing aggression with control, paid off.
• Necaxa / Gago narrative: Gago’s return to Mexico and facing his former side added drama. His teams have often favored structure and tempo — but here Chivas’s home energy was too much. (Reuters)
• Game management: Chivas handled Necaxa’s resurgence attempt well. Substitutions and control of midfield maintained their advantage until the end.

Implications: table & momentum

• The 3 points move Chivas closer to Play-In contention, improving their standing and keeping pressure on midtable rivals. (Chivas Decorazon)
• Necaxa’s defeat slows their ascent; their league position remains precarious.
• Confidence returns to Chivas ahead of upcoming fixtures; the win rebuilds morale after the Toluca setback.

What to watch next — schedule & storylines

• Chivas will have more home matches as September continues; they must string together consistency if they want to reach postseason phases.
• Watch whether Sandoval becomes a regular starter and how Milito rotates youth versus experienced players.
• Necaxa will need to bounce back quickly; Gago will be under pressure to deliver results to validate his return.