Thierry Henry misses a pretty easy chance in the 28′ minute after being put through by Messi. Chivas come back strongly with a goal as Ramon Morales was on target to forcefully head the ball past Victor Valdes in the 50th minute from a pass by Xavier Baez. Barca were able to force a draw 14 minutes later as Dani Alves looped a dipping cross across goal that took the defense by surprise but found Bojan Krkic on the left. The striker coolly tapped the ball in.
This set the tone for Jesus Padilla to pull off a last gasp shocker but after getting by Puyol, he crashed the ball into the post from a difficult angle in the 87th minute. The Mexicans were able to slow down Barca with their strong defense even as they ceded control ovover the ball. Messi having an off day also helped. Pep Guardiola made wholesale changes in the second half bringing on Krkic and Gudjohnsen who quickened the pace.
The match attracted 61,572 fans to Candlestick Park, the largest crowd to watch a Bay Area soccer match since the Women’s World Cup at Stanford in 1999.