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America Tie With Taste Of Defeat
America opened the Apertura 2009 season with a draw that, until the final minute, looked like a victory.
Jul 30, 2009 1:46:05 AM
First Half
Everything started even for these two brothers. The game was closed down to a midfield battle but the home team San Luis looked to be more rebellious in the attack. San Luis seemed to get more chances up top but the America defense with their new player Aquivaldo Mosquera did not let San Luis generate any dangerous chances.
In the 30th minute Jean Beausejour played Salvador cabañas well inside the box. Cabañas had a go but his shot went over the bar. Cabañas was yet to convert a goal since switching over to the number 10.
The tempo seemed to be controlled by America but it was still a tight game with both defenses holding well.
Noe Maya had a great individual play in the 35th minute. He beat Armando Navarrete and Ricardo Rojas and with an empty net in front, the ball crashed against the post and he missed a clear chance to send his team up.
In the 42nd minute Carlos "El Torito” Silva threw in a ball into a box that resulted into a shot. Goalkeeper Adrian Martinez though followed the ball well as it bounced off the crossbar and out. The game was mostly held in the midfield and the first half ended at 0-0.
Second Half
The second half started pretty much like the first with the ball being fully played at midfield. This time though it was America who were being the rebellious ones up top
Salvador Cabañas again missed a point blank shot in the 52nd minute. Cabañas received the ball from a corner kick, the ball sailed over everyone and Cabañas received it in the far post. Cabañas hesitated and opted for a pass instead of a much easier shot that had a high probability of goal. It seemed that Blanco’s ten was too much for Cabañas to be carrying around.
After that shot though San Luis moved their lines and started heading forward once again. There was good ball control by the gladiators but when there was about 20 yards left to go the Aguila defense proved to be impenetrable. San Luis was resulting to long distance shots and in the 57th minute Maya had a good shot but Navarrete had no problem controlling the ball.
A few minutes later Alfredo Moreno beat the newly acquired Mosquera and was one on one with Navarrete. Navarrete though with one hand stopped the shot keeping his side within striking distance of winning the game.
The game seemed to be San Luis’ for the taken but in the 79th minute America turned things around. The forward who seemed like a ghost in the whole game came back to life. Enrique Esqueda put the ball in the back of the net from an in swinger which he put his head to. America went ahead 1-0.
America had the game more than won but in the 89th minute they conceded a penalty. Ricardo Rojas who was having an off night committed the foul. Tressor Moreno took the shot for San Luis and drilled it in the bottom right hand corner. The game was tied at one apiece with seconds to go. The game ended in a tie and like good brothers America and San Luis shared the spoils.
Sylvestre Adame, Goal.com
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