Chicharito Misses Last-Minute Penalty as Chivas Are Eliminated by Cruz Azul

Javier “Chicharito” Hernández lived a heartbreaking farewell with Chivas. In the dying minutes of the match against Cruz Azul, he stepped up to take the penalty that could have pushed Guadalajara into the semifinals — and sent it over the crossbar. That miss became the turning point of the night and sealed the Rebaño Sagrado’s elimination from the Apertura 2025.

Cruz Azul took full advantage of the emotional collapse that followed. Chivas tried to recover, but the psychological blow landed heavily. As the stadium held its breath, Chicharito froze for a moment that felt eternal, hands on his head, half-smiling in disbelief, trying to mask a moment of pain. When his teammates surrounded him, the weight of realization hit: his final memory wearing the rojiblanca would be a missed penalty that changed the direction of the tournament.

The crowd sent him off with applause of compassion, not celebration. For a player who returned to Guadalajara with joy and hope, the ending felt almost cruel. The image of the number 14 looking up toward the sky after sending the shot too high will remain as a symbol of an unexpected and emotional goodbye.

This moment will live in club history — not as a heroic goal, but as the mistake that shaped the end of his second era with Chivas. Chicharito walked off with his head down, the echo of the moment still ringing through the stands. His decision to take responsibility, grab the ball, and step into that moment of courage ultimately became the moment that allowed Cruz Azul to close out the match with complete control.