What we didn’t want to happened happened, and Toluca got a tie out of the first leg of the Mexican league finals (and to think I woke up at 5 a.m. CET friday to listen to the second half). The game was tactical as expected (Chivas plays very attacking football, whereas Toluca is pure catenaccio these days). The refereeing was horrible (they didn’t signal a penalty), and Toluca got what they went to the Jalisco Stadium for, they got the tie.
Now Chivas has to beat Toluca at their stadium on Sunday either in regular time, extra time or penalties, something the team hasn’t pulled off for 9 years. Now would be the time.
Chivas again demonstrated that it’s just a much better team than América this year by holding them to a goalless draw at the Azteca Stadium. América and Chivas met 4 times during 2006, with Chivas taking the scalp in the Superclásico 3 times, and this goalless draw that gets them through to the finals against Toluca. Information from mediotiempo.
Chivas played last night a Superclásico in the semifinals, beating América 2-0. After a lot of media coverage, the game started rather imprecisely in the first half, but the goals came in the second: penalty scored by Ramoncito Morales and a header by Omar Bravo. San Oswaldo Sánchez, Chivas goalkeeper, saved a dubious penalty.
The return leg will be on Sunday night (Monday very early morning CET). I’ll post a video of the goals when available. In the meantime, you can watch the gallery at mediotiempo.com.
Chivas tied with Cruz Azul at their stadium in Mexico City, but went through to the semifinals of the Apertura 2006 tournament thanks to their previous victory of 2-0 at the Jalisco stadium in the first leg. The video highlights below:
Now Chivas will play América in the semifinals on Thursday night (early Friday CET)… the Superclásico is served. In the other semifinal, Pachuca will play Toluca.
Chivas seemed unstoppable last night, beating Cruz Azul at home at the Jalisco Stadium by 2-0. Bofo Bautista played a remarkable game, scoring one goal and setting up the other. I’ll post a video as soon as it is online.
Update: The videos of the goals are online. The first video is here. The second is below. Both are absolutely excellent. I hope my Chivas keep on playing as well.
In the second game of the play-off series, Chivas absolutely demolished Veracruz by 4-0. I’m a happy man. We’re meeting Cruz Azul in the quarter finals. Review and pictures of the game at mediotiempo.com. I’ll post a video as soon as somebody uploads it to YouTube.
Update: The video is here. I was amazed by the quality of the goals and goalkeeping. The game against Cruz Azul is tonight (wednesday 22nd). Let’s see how it goes.
The legend of Real Madrid, the man that as a player scored the second largest amount of goals in the Spanish league, the man that took Pumas to win back-to-back titles and to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in 2004 to leave them in the relegation zone in 2005 has been appointed coach of the Mexico football national team. I didn’t like our previous coach Lavolpe far too much, but their battle in the media was absolutely annoying and counter-productive. Even though I’m wearing my Mexico ’86 commemorative edition jersey I have to say A ver si como roncas duermes (a phrase in Spanish similar to asking whether one can walk the walk having talked the talk).
I just hope that not only he instills that winning mentality he so much talks about, but also that he really wins, period.
Valkosininen joukkue pelasi hyvin ja uskomaton fakta on, että kansallisjoukkue on taulukon päässä Portugalin, Puolan ja Belgian edessä Eurooppanmestaruukseen väylällä. Hyvä Suomi!
