Cruz Azul's Meza Feels Ready After Closing Out Preseason

Cruz Azul manager Enrique Meza said his team is ready for the start of the season as the club tied Alacranes 2-2 in their final preseason friendly on Tuesday.

Jul 22, 2009 12:12:51 AM

More On :  Cruz Azul
Cesar Villaluz - Cruz Azul (Mexsport)
Cruz Azul closed out their preseason with a pair of games in a four-day stretch and club manager Enrique Meza said his team is all but ready for Saturday's season opener against Jaguares.

"I believe we have progressed. Having played so many games has helped us," Meza told Mexican outlet Esto. "I feel that all these minutes players have seen has helped our roster tremendously."
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A year ago, Cruz Azul finished in dead last, but with Meza's arrival hopes are high for a quick turnaround. Cruz Azul made several changes, as the club added Ramon Nuñez from Puebla to bolster the offense. Star goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona, midfielder Gerardo Torrado and defender Fausto Pinto have not played with the team as the players are with the Mexican national team in the Gold Cup.

Consequently, Meza has used many different starting lineups and likely will continue to do so once the season starts.

"Every game the lineups were different so we could figure out who complements each other well and to let them get a better understanding of each other."

On Tuesday, Cruz Azul tied seocond-division side Alacranes de Durango 2-2. Cesar Villaluz and Luis Angel Landin scored the goals.

Cruz Azul used the following starting lineup in the match, which could be the same 11 that starts against Jaguares on Saturday: Yosgart Gutierrez, Rogelio Chavez, Julio Cesar Dominguez, Alejandro Castro, Melvin Brown, Cristian Riveros, Cesar Villaluz, Ramon Nuñez, Jaime Lozano, Mario Ortiz, Emanuel Villa.


La Maquina finished with a 4-1-2 record during the preseason.

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