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Cruz Azul Set Sights On Islanders, CCL Final
Despite a 2-0 deficit and a sagging domestic campaign, Cruz Azul management says the club is only focused on reaching the final of a tournament they long ago gave full importance to.
Apr 7, 2009 10:45:53 AM
In order for la Maquina to reach the next step in their quest for a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, the club needs to win convincingly in Estadio Azul on Tuesday.
Cruz Azul will host Puerto Rico in a CONCACAF Champions League semifinal match. Down 2-0 in the aggregate score, Cruz Azul face an obstacle that is likely more imposing than many feel.
The Islanders form part of the United Soccer Leagues, what amounts to the United States' second division. But Puerto Rico will find a determined Cruz Azul side who, despite their wretched league campaign, still have plenty of bite left in them.
"We're playing to get to the final of an important tournament," club vice president Eduardo De La Torre said. "Our only objective is to overcome the deficit we face in order to get closer a ticket to the Club World Cup."
To do so, Cruz Azul must win by at least two goals just to have a shot. However, if Puerto Rico scores a goal, Cruz Azul would have to win the game outright by three goals or more, since the first tiebreaker is road goals.
Islanders' counterparts Montreal faced a similar scenario in their own quarterfinal matchup last month. Montreal had beaten Santos Laguna 2-0 in Canada and held a 4-1 aggregate-goals lead in the second half of their return leg in Torreon. But Santos scored four second-half goals, including two in stoppage time, to advance to the semifinals and eliminate Montreal.
Still, even if Tuesday's match turns out well for Cruz Azul, the club is mired in a bit of a crisis. With a 2-5-5 record, Cruz Azul sit in last place in Group 2 and need a minor miracle to reach the Liguilla.
"It's an important game but it's not going to save us," De La Torre said of Tuesday's match against Puerto Rico. "From the start we've taken this tournament very seriously and that's not going to change. But if we win, it's not going to take away from our bad campaign."
Cruz Azul reached the finals of both domestic tournaments in 2008, only to watch Santos and Toluca celebrate their respective league titles. Such a finish to the Clausura 2009 season seems unlikely to happen, and victory over Puerto Rico won't affect the domestic campaign either way.
"There are many points of analysis and we'll have to take a deep look at them," De La Torre said. "Just because you win one game doesn't solve anything."
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