Colored powder covered the field and chants from both teams’ fans created excitement at Chukchansi Park on March 23 as the Chivas and Pumas played a friendly fútbol game for Fresno fans. 

Red and white decorated the stadium for the Chivas, with a hint of blue and gold for the Pumas. Fresno fans showed up with anticipation for the two Liga MX teams, and those included some lifelong Chivas fans from Fresno State. 

Fresno State football kicker, Abraham Montaño, visited his roots once again as he watched his favorite team growing up play live. Montaño is used to being on the field, Wednesday night he was in the stands cheering on his favorite team. 

Montaño saw Pumas practicing at Fresno State’s soccer facilities the day before the game. Once he heard both teams were playing at Chukchansi park the following day, Montaño clinched tickets to watch them play. 

“I wanted to attend the game for one because I am a diehard Chivas fan,” Montaño said. “I’ve been a Chivas fan since I was pretty much born because I was born into it. My whole family are Chivas fans.”

Growing up with a long history of watching and playing soccer, Fresno State student Alexis Rodriguez watched his favorite team, the Chivas, play in Fresno for the fourth time. 

Rodriguez first heard of the game through social media, but didn’t believe that they were actually coming to Fresno until he saw more traction about the game. His family is also long time Chivas fans and enjoy watching professional soccer, so they were sure to get tickets as they came back to the Central Valley. 

“Doesn’t happen often that your favorite soccer team comes close to where you live. We knew most of their star players were gonna come as well,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez said that he’s followed these teams in Liga MX for a very long time and watched the Mexican league games every week supporting the Chivas with his family.

“As a soccer player, to experience a moment like that was amazing. Watching the game with my family makes it even better. Soccer is the greatest sport in the world. People always enjoy their time at a soccer game,” Rodriguez said.­

Montaño was also excited to see the star players from the Chivas. Just like himself, many fans didn’t expect the Chivas to bring their starting players. When the Chivas players entered the field at Chukchansi Park, the crowd exploded as they saw the faces they normally see on TV. 

“I got to see a lot of the star players. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet them, but it’s ok just being able to see them there and see them play live was definitely something very nice, like a very great experience,” Montaño said. 

Rodriguez explained that the atmosphere of these games was something he looked forward to the most. He anticipated the full stadium at Chukchansi because of the strong bond that Fresno fans have with soccer, especially with the much-anticipated return of professional soccer in Fresno. 

Despite ending the game as a tie, fans left the stadium content as they walked down Fulton Street, honking their horns and celebrating with other fans over their favorite team. Montaño explained the connection of soccer with Fresno fans, because of the large Latino community in the Central Valley. 

“I think it showed by the attendance. I think it was a sold-out crowd and there were maybe over 10,000 people, so I think it just goes to show that there’s a big connection with those teams here. And you know, just fans in general that they support the team. They support the sport and there’s passion for it,” he said. 

Both Rodriguez and Montaño said their favorite moment was when Chivas’ Christian Calderon scored a goal. The game remained scoreless for the majority of the first half until the Chivas scored the goal, which was when Chukchansi Park really came to life. 

“There was beer thrown and smoke in the air when Chivas scored. It’s always exciting to see your team score. The fans were incredible every minute of the game,” Rodriguez said.­

Montaño noted that seeing the fans come together was an unforgettable moment, even up to the point when his favorite team scored the first goal of the game. 

Montaño and Rodriguez both said their experience at the game was exciting. For Montaño, attending his first game in almost a decade because of his busy schedule with sports was a great homecoming to the sport he loves.  

“It was great, I really enjoyed it and now that I know that [the] Mexican teams come play here, then I’ll definitely be going to any game that I can,” Montaño said. 

The energy inside Chukchansi Park was described by fans in one word: electrifying.