InterLiga: No Winners In Group B

No team emerged victorious in Saturday’s Group B action. Tigres and Atlas drew scoreless, while the Súper Clásico offered an entertaining exhibit.

Jan 4, 2009 2:08:57 AM

More On :  America, Atlas, Guadalajara, Tigres
Tigres-Atlas (Mexsport)
Group B
Matchday 2:  Saturday, January 3
Robertson Stadium, Houston, Texas
Tigres 0 - 0 Atlas
América 1 - 1 Chivas

Tigres 0 - 0 Atlas
No harm was done in the first match to kick-off Group B activity between Tigres and Atlas.  

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The encounter had an entertaining start with both teams putting the goalkeepers to test early. 

As the minutes passed, Atlas soon began to dominate the actions of the match, but their efforts were effectively thwarted by the defensive barrier deployed by Tigres.

Both sides had their share of opportunities, but the Zorros displayed the better football and were closer to opening the score on several occasions.

In the following Group B fixture on Tuesday, January 6, Tigres will face América, while Atlas and Chivas will headline a new edition of the Clásico Tapatío.

América 1 - 1 Chivas
The latest edition of the Súper Clásico featured a renovated and improved América, who were sole dominators of the first half, but the Chivas were organized, tireless and benefited from a bit of luck to tie the first derby of the year.


New América recruit, Chilean Jean Beausejour, was one of the best players on the field based on his great speed and dangerous presence in front of the Chivas goal.  

In the 38th minute, Beausejour finished off a brilliant América play with a well-placed powerful strike to the bottom left corner of the goal defended by Chivas goalkeeper Luis Michel.  

However, Chivas demonstrated a greater improvement in the second half but needed luck to get the ball into the back of the net.  

In the 56th minute, new Chivas acquisition Sergio Amaury Ponce headed a ball in the penalty area which was redirected by Águilas midfielder Enrique Vera into his own goal and drawing the score 1-1.

Both teams had their own half to demonstrate their new arms in their first match of the year.  America’s new reinforcements demonstrated interesting things, while Ponce and Carlos Ochoa provided Chivas with more offensive presence.  

It was clear that more time is needed for the teams to find a deeper understanding, since there were many occasions that imprecision filled the Súper Clásico.

Goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel was easily the best Chivas player, with some key saves on his return to the Chivas goal almost five months after his arm fracture in the Superliga 2008.  

The sell-out crowd witnessed many of the new faces for both teams, but they left with the desire of seeing the return of Pável Pardo on the pitch for the Águilas.  Pardo was unable to participate since his international pass has not arrived from Germany.  He will travel to Stuttgart to arrange the situation in the coming days.

With this result, all teams in Group B are tied at one point in the following order: Chivas, América, Tigres and Atlas.

Goals
AME: Jean Beausojour (37’)
CHI: Enrique Vera (56’) o.g.

--César García, Goal.com

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