Club America vs Chivas de Guadalajara

In a historic night for soccer in North America, Club America and Chivas faced off at the Rose Bowl in front of 86,000 fans. It was the highest-attended soccer game on US soil involving teams from this side of the pond, breaking the previous record set by El Trafico on July 4th of this year. In the end, Club America came out victorious thanks to a brace by Julian Quiñones.

The festivities got started early for this friendly edition of the Mexican Superclasico. The outskirts of the mythical Rose Bowl were packed hours ahead of kickoff as Chivas and America fans made their way to the stadium. It was a vibrant atmosphere as families shared food and drinks, traded chants, and got ready for what promised to be a memorable evening.

Inside the stadium, it was as if both teams were playing in their own country. The old bones of the historic stadium shook as the teams took the field, and the packed house erupted in unison. It was a relenting atmosphere that lasted throughout the 90 and even caused the game to be stopped for several minutes at one point. Both sets of fans set off flares and pyrotechnics at either end of the field, causing visibility issues. Still, it was the type of atmosphere that many fans yearn for here in the States, and it was a testament to the passion that many fans here hold on our shores.

On the field, it ended up being a hard-fought match — as these Superclasicos usually are — but America came out victorious in the end. Quiñones was the hero thanks to a delicious long-range strike in the first half, and a well-timed finish off a cross in the second half.

Despite it being only a friendly, this record-breaking match served to reinforce the growth of the sport in the United States as well as underscore the increasing popularity of this fixture outside of Mexico. Most of those who were present probably hope it is not the last time these two sides visit the States.

Photography by Nicolas Polo