GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Three takes from Chivas' 4-0 win over Pumas in Estadio Chivas on Sunday in round 12 of the Liga MX Clausura 2016:
1. Chivas rising after best performance of season
Pumas and Chivas ended Sunday on 15 points from their 12 games so far in the Clausura, but there is no doubt it is the Guadalajara team that has the momentum as Liga MX teams make the final push for playoff spots in coming weeks.
Chivas followed up their fine 3-1 away victory ahead of the international break with another performance to suggest that Matias Almeyda and his players have got things together just in time for the crescendo of the Clausura.
Orbelin Pineda, just 20 years old, again shone for Guadalajara and opened the scoring with a deflected shot from outside the box in the 20th minute.
Ten minutes later, left-winger Carlos Cisneros burst down his flank and sent a low cross for right-winger Isaac Brizuela to finish with ease.
The 40,000-plus fans inside a full Estadio Chivas went ballistic. This was the first time Chivas had scored twice in the first half of a game all season. And it was deserved. Chivas' fast and dynamic forwards had taken the game to Pumas, who provided little resistance.
Brizuela latched onto an Angel Zaldivar header and coolly slotted the ball in for Chivas' third in the second half. Substitute Eduardo "Chofis" Lopez made it four in the 74th with a magical goal.
Pumas will feel hard done by that Chivas center-back Carlos Salcedo wasn't sent off in the 22nd after a two-footed challenge on Gerardo Alcoba. Salcedo would make a crucial tackle to save a goal three minutes before half-time, which almost rubbed in the fact he was still on the pitch.
But this was Chivas' night and a rare occasion for celebration for fans after nine Liga MX games without victory at home. It justified the club's decision not to fire Almeyda earlier in the season, when Chivas failed to win any of their first eight matches.
Pumas never got going, aside from Ismael Sosa -- Pumas' best player by a distance -- and seemed to have one eye on Wednesday's Copa Libertadores clash against Olimpia.
2. Brizuela back on track, 'Chofis' excites fans
There is a reason why ahead of the 2014 World Cup "Conejo" Brizuela was considered the next Mexico player to be course to play club football in Europe. The talent, speed and ability is there, but Brizuela has failed to show consistency since then.
Sunday's performance and two goals was a reminder of just why Brizuela was so highly prized. The call-up to the Mexican national team will have boosted his confidence and off the back of his best season since joining the club for a large transfer fee in December 2014 he can still become a regular under Juan Carlos Osorio.
Put simply, Brizuela looks to be enjoying playing for Chivas. And this is the first time we can assert that.
Aside from Brizuela, a mention has to be made of "Chofis" Lopez. There is a lot of talk around Guadalajara amongst Chivas fans about a player who netted two golazos against Monterrey and who many believe is the club's next home-grown star.
It was always going to be interesting to see how 21-year-old Lopez followed up that performance in Monterrey. We got the answer with his goal. Lopez picked up the ball just outside Pumas' penalty area, completely sold Dario Veron with a swift turn and smashed the ball past Alejandro "Pikolin" Palacios and into the corner of the goal.
It was the icing on the cake of a memorable night.
3. Playoffs distant but possible for Chivas
Twenty-five points in the Liga MX's split season format is usually enough to give teams a playoff place. Chivas have 15 with five games remaining. The maths isn't that complicated. Guadalajara will need three wins and a draw to reach the magic number. With games remaining against Puebla, Atlas, Pachuca, Dorados and Santos Laguna, that seems like a reasonable possibility.
Certainly, if Chivas play like they have in their last three matches against Pumas, Monterrey and Club America, the all-Mexican team doesn't need to fear anyone.
Relegation worries have turned into hope that Guadalajara will be in the Clausura postseason.