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Jornada 3 Recap: Chivas Frontrunners
A tragedy-stricken weekend brought teams together as rivals paid tribute to Salvador Cabañas who is getting better day by day. Football went on but with a different feel, says Goal.com's Sylvestre Adame.
Feb 1, 2010 10:01:00 AM
By Sylvestre Adame
Monterrey 2-0 Cruz Azul
Jaguares 2-2 Tigres
Chivas 3-2 Estudiantes
Pachuca 5-1 Atlante
San Luis 0-2 Morelia
Puebla 1-2 Gallos Blancos
Pumas 0-0 Toluca
Santos 1-2 Atlas
America 1-0 Indios
Thoughts On Cabañas
Exactly one week ago tragedy struck the footballing world. News broke out that America’s striker Salvador Cabañas had been shot in the head. The very one that was being chased by English clubs almost had his career end in a matter of seconds. Hopefully the striker finds himself getting better as days pass.
The reasons for his shooting is yet to be determined. There is however a story by a witness who says the shooting was over the very game that Salvador Cabañas loves so much. According to the witness, the aggressor asked what the problem was with America and him not able to find the net. Salvador told the aggressor who did he think he was. The aggressor said: “The guy who is going to blow your head off.” The aggressor then pulled out a gun and after a couple of words Cabañas confronted the aggressor and said: “Shoot if you have the balls to do it.”
We all know what happened next, but if this story carries any truth behind it, then why get mad over the beautiful game?
Nobody knows the answer to that but initial speculation points to Gambling as being a problem. This individual was obviously wealthy and did not need any of Cabañas’ money, so it was not an attempt at robbery. This individual could have been ticked off after maybe betting for America and then losing a large amount of money.
It’s happened before with other cases where innocent players and coaches have been gunned down because of gambling.
Cabañas has nothing to do with the gambling and he is only a player who makes a living off of what he does best. Unlike this “JJ” guy, Cabañas sets the right example for kids around Mexico and around the world. If you “JJ” have a problem with losing money then don’t gamble. It’s your fault and not others; you’re the one who obviously has an impaired judgment. I hope they catch you and all the other scumbags like you.
Here’s to Cabañas making a successful recovery and for his presence with the Paraguay national team in South Africa.
Can “Chicharito” Do It?
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez currently leads the Mexican top flight in goal scoring. If he continues at this pace which has been 2 goals a game he cold once again reclaim the individual scoring title for the Mexicans.
You would have to go back to the Clausura 2007 to find the last Mexican to take the title. It was Hernandez’s team mate Omar Bravo. In that season Omar Bravo scored 11 goals and took the title. Hernandez is more than half way there and should get well past that this season.
This in part could be good and bad for Chivas.
There shouldn’t be any doubt that Hernandez is being watched by some European teams. Winning the scoring title would only boost the interest in Hernandez. If Hernandez makes the Mexico’s World Cup this summer, there will definitely be some transfer rumors surfacing from the old continent.
But would Chivas let him go? He is basically the attack for Chivas and loosing him would be catastrophic. Hernandez would have to be strong willed not to take an offer from a European club.
You also have to factor in that it’s been historically better to make the jump at a younger.
For now though, he is a Chivas player and an ideal one at that.
Surprising Gallos
As we all know by now Chivas are the current SuperLiders of this young Bicentenario season. They and another team in the league remain unbeaten the other team find themselves below Chivas with seven points.
This team was one of the bottom dwellers last season. They picked it up late last season but could not make it into the Liguilla. This team is Queretaro.
It is extremely difficult to believe that Queretaro is in such a good spot while a team like Toluca can’t even break the top 10. It seems as though the roles have reversed for this season. There are 5 teams in the top eight this season that didn’t even make it in the Liguilla for last seasons Apertura.
The teams who pictured to have a great season haven’t. Take Estudiantes, for instance, they won a spot in South America but that has turned out to be a curse. Estudiantes haven’t been able to record a single point this season.
Cruz Azul also panned out for something greater when they signed Christian Gimenez, but that hasn’t turned out like they wanted. Maybe all those missed championships fogs up their minds, who knows?
One thing still remains a constant though. Indios can’t win.
On Their Way Down
5. Estudiantes - It would be cool if they drop down to the second division and end up wining the Libertadores
4. Jaguares- Still can’t win at home
3. Atlas- such a shame despite playing so well
2. Tigres - Looks like the race is with them again
1. Indios- Just let the misery end.
Who’s hot, who’s not
Hot:
1. Mexico- The Most hated of rivals came together to gather support for Salvador Cabañas
2. Javier Hernandez- 6 goals in 3 games that’s like 2 goals a game
3. Dario Cvitanich- seems to be establishing well in Pachuca
4. Queretaro - Undefeated after three Jornadas
5. Chivas- Great come-back against Estudiantes
Not
1. Toluca- Still continue winless in the Bicentenario
2. Indios- 20 games and counting
3. Estudiantes- Did they really win the Interliga?
4. Cruz Azul- Should really do better with what they’ve got
5. Jose Manuel de la Torre- Takes Nestor Calderon out after 17 minutes and after coming in as a sub with no apparent injuries, what’s that all about?
Best XI:
GK: Guillermo Ochoa (America)
DEF: Marvin Cabrera (Morelia), Hector Morales (Monterrey), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia)
MID: Miguel Zepeda (Atlas), Alberto Medina (Chivas), Damian Manso (Pachuca)
FWD: Dario Cvitanich (Pachuca), Javier Hernandez (Chivas), Isaac Romo (Queretaro)
Game of the week: Chivas vs. Estudiantes
Estudiantes looked to have a clear victory after going 2-0 up at one point in the game. Then out of no where, Chivas shifted into a different gear. Guadalajara, lead by Javier Hernandez, tied the game and then took the lead. The game ended in a dramatic 3-2 turn around.
Team of the week: Pachuca
Dario Cvitanich was just the player Pachuca needed to replace Christian Gimenez. Cvitanich had a great game and Pachuca destroyed Atlante 5-1.
Player of the week: Javier Hernandez
This kid takes it once more. Javier Hernandez carried Chivas to the victory against Estudiantes. “El Chicharito” keeps racking them up. He is in very good form and a call up to the national team would not be surprising.
Sylvestre Adame covers Mexican football for Goal.com.
For more coverage of the Mexican Primera Division, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.
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