I waited almost 10 years for my beloved Chivas to be crowned Mexican league champions. And it was worth the wait. I suffered through two league finals, first against Necaxa, in the Winter 98 season, quite brutal losing 2-0 at home. Then against UNAM, Clausura 2004 season, which didn't affect me much since the only reason the match went to penalties was because Chivas was gifted with a phantom penalty kick.
Chivas is legendary and I knew that had Chivas beaten UNAM in the penalty kick shoot out would of handed my club with a tainted championship and we are better than that, those types of wins are better suited for our heated rivals Club America.
The most recent failures almost sent me overboard. The previous loses were at the very least acceptable because the club had been bested in the field by their rivals. However the following loses, in key matches, were all due to outside influences.
Chivas having defeated two South American Giants in Boca Jrs and Sao Paolo, and leaving a few other clubs in their wake, were set to make a serious challenge for the Copa Libertadores title. And right before their first leg semifinals match up against Brazilian side International the then Mexican National team coach Lavolpe decided to call half the starting line up, including the on loan reserve goalie, for the Confederations cup!
Thus, with a side made up of bench warmers and reserve players Chivas met their demise at the hands of the Brazilians. Many of the Chivas starters flew back from Germany, after the Mexican National teams 3rd place match loss against the Hosts, to try and battle the Brazilians in the second leg home match, they put up a fight but were too tired to put up with a 90 minute battle.
Again dismantled by the Mexican national team Chivas faced Pachuca in the Mexican league semi finals. This time Chivas almost pulled off the upset. Had it not been for the referee who decided to award the home side with an extra five minutes of overtime! And in the very last minute, If memory serves me right, past the fifth minute, on a corner kick the Tuzos managed to score and despite the 3-2 win, (4-4 global), Chivas were eliminated! Pachuca advanced for having finished the regular season with a better record.
Chivas Apertura 2006 championship win will go down as one of the best in the short season format. Not only did Chivas defeat the three most successful clubs in the Mexican league but they did it with a squad that fielded many players from the clubs youth system, arguably the best in Mexico.
Add to this magnificent run which saw Chivas defeat Cruz Azul (4-2) in the quarter finals. then A 2-0 win o Semifinal win over arch rivals America, with their elimination happening in their own home Azteca stadium, Chivas home away from home. The final couldn't of been more dramatic. Toluca, the best club since the short season format began, with an early lead fail to keep their dominance over Chivas, Who had not been able to record a win at the Devils Cauldron in nine years.
However, Chivas managed to turn their fortunes around and in the second half scored two very memorable goals. Specially the second goal, Bofo Bautista's celebration said it all.
Looking to the sky, after his volley found the back of the net, Bofo screamed to the skies with joy, and with tears shed in loving memory of his mother, he celebrated the goal in all its glory. It was at that moment that I knew Chivas had won the championship, despite twenty minutes remaining in the cup.
Oswaldo, canonized as Saint by the fans, was also playing his soul out. He had yet to win a league championship and was mourning the death of his father. Adding to the list of defunct Chivas was the master mind behind Chivas glory years Javier De La Torre who coached Chivas to five league titles. Don Javier was the uncle of current Chiva head coach Nestor de la Torre. Giving these circumstances winning was not an option.
The victory over Toluca awarded Chivas with their 11th league title making them, once again, the Mexican club with the most league titles. Dale Campeon.
