RSS
ATOM
advertisement
InterLiga: Big Wins For Chivas and America
Mexico’s biggest clubs are in pole position to advance to the Final phase after Chivas took the Guadalajara derby against Atlas and América defeated Tigres in Group B action.
Jan 7, 2009 3:43:52 AM
Matchday 4: Tuesday, January 6
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
Tigres 1 - 3 América
Chivas 3 - 1 Atlas
Tigres 1 - 3 América
Águilas del América earned an important victory against Tigres which puts them one step away from reaching the Final phase of the InterLiga 2009.
The immense preseason transfer spending is slowly beginning to demonstrate an interesting football idea, which has resulted in a powerful América offense.
However, the Águilas had to row upstream to earn the victory since the Tigres displayed an attacking initiative from the start and struck first.
After a series of rebounds in the América penalty area from a corner kick, the ball landed in front of Argentine Guillermo Marino who simply touched it into the goal to give the regiomontanos a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
The azulcremas attempted to respond to the early goal, but Tigres did not relent and forced heroics out of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to prevent the second fall of America’s goal.
Águilas would quickly find a reaction and before the end of the first half whistle was blown had overturned the score in their favor.
In the 35th minute, Paraguayan midfielder Enrique Vera drew things level and ten minutes later, Salvador Cabañas’ free-kick was deflected by the Tigres wall for the 2-1 América lead in first half stoppage time.
The start of the second half was a direct opposite from the beginning of the match. Águilas came out with a purpose and objective in mind, while Tigres appeared not to be worried by their dwindling Copa Libertadores chances.
In the 57th minute, Brazilian forward Robert de Pinho was brought down inside the box by Tigres goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, and the Coapa side was awarded a penalty.
Goal scoarer Salvador Cabañas was in charge of converting it and handing América the definitive 3-1 lead.
In the remaining minutes América would have their share of opportunities, while Tigres got an unexpected reaction from their substitutes that was halted by a controversial refereeing decision. In the 74th minute, Tigres were denied a legitimate goal for an apparent offsides call on Francisco Fonseca.
With the result, the Águilas have taken flight and are once again in position for a return to the Copa Libertadores.
For their part, Tigres were outplayed in the second half and did not appear too worried for the fading Libertadores dream. Their focus will be to arrive at full strength to the start of the season.
Goals
TIG: Guillermo Marino (22’)
AME: Enrique Vera (35’), Salvador Cabañas (45’), Robert de Pinho (58’)
Chivas 3 - 1 Atlas
In a complicated match, Chivas de Guadalajara took the InterLiga edition of the Clásico Tapatío when they defeated city rival Atlas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
The final result does not suggest the nature of the match, since Atlas took an early control of the ball and consistently attacked the Chivas goal defended by goalkeeper Luis Michel.
Unfortunately for the Rojinegros, not making the most of their attacking plays would cost them when central defender Néstor Vidrio committed a childish hand-ball inside the penalty area, giving a penalty shot in favor of Chivas.
In the 20th minute, captain Ramón Morales skillfully converted the shot and handed Chivas an early 1-0 lead.
The early goal was the major difference in the match, since up to this point Chivas had not done enough to be in the lead and they could now manage and control the game to their favor.
With the start of the second half, Atlas continued to push forward in search of the goal tying goal, while Chivas waited for the counterattacking options.
Their constant attacking efforts would pay off, when an alert Bruno Marioni converted a rebound by Michel in the penalty box to draw the score level at 1-1 in the 74th minute.
The Zorros would not relent in the attack and in the 76th minute, Argentine playmaker Darío Bottinelli shot a cannon from his right leg that shook the crossbar and saved the Rebaño from going down in the score.
However, the offensive proposal by the Rojinegros left many unprotected spaces in their own defensive end, something which Chivas noticed and effectively exploited.
It took a span of five minutes for the Rojiblancos to once again take control in the scoreboard.
In the 78th minute, an excellent maneuvering play by substitute Sergio Ávila further opened the Atlas defense as he served a perfect ball to new signing Carlos Ochoa, who did not forgive in front of the goal and returned the 2-1 lead to the Rebaño Sagrado.
Ochoa would once again make his goalscoaring presence felt in the 83rd minute when he defeated Atlas goalkeeper Pedro Hernández with a low shot and sealed the deal 3-1 in favor of the biggest club of Guadalajara.
Chivas took a huge step towards the Final phase with the derby win, while Atlas’ chances now depend on a victory against the Águilas and overall goal differential.
With the final Group B results, Chivas take control of the group but they are tied with their arch-rival America at four points apiece. In turn, Atlas and Tigres are in the third and fourth spots respectively, with one point each.
The decisive Group B fixtures will be played on Friday, with Atlas and Tigres playing their last cards against Mexico’s biggest clubs who want to take one more step towards the Copa Libertadores.
Goals
CHI: Ramón Morales (20’), Carlos Ochoa (78’, 83’)
ATL: Bruno Marioni (74’)
--César García, Goal.com
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
2 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream
In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.
-
ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein
Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.
-
LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction
With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?
-
ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment
Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.
-
VERTELNEY: MLS owners take to Twitter to spread their team's word
"Any time you tweet, it's a mini press conference," says Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson.
Advertisement
Advertisement
