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Capacity or Incapacity of reaction

MEXICO CITY -- Talking about "capacity or incapacity" of reaction is really trendy in our soccer. We would be digressing if we tried to find the origins of such popular, yet truthful, phrase.

Mexico champs Pumas aren't showing capacity of reaction, and neither are the Atlante champs after the third week of the 2008 Clausura Tournament.

By the way, production fell to 22 from 25 goals last week, despite the thrashings of Cruz Azul over San Luis (4-0) and Chivas over Morelia (6-0).

What should never deteriorate is quality soccer and successful teams, all the more so being so early in the tournament.

BAD CHOICE?
The Pumas are already in a worrying situation after three straight losses. They were first hit by Chivas (3-0), later by Atlante (2-1) and last Sunday by the America (2-0). They have scored just one goal, but the serious issue here is the Universitarios' incapacity of reaction. The team has no rhythm and the players' enthusiasm falls whenever their rivals take over the game, so their weaknesses become even more evident.

Without intention of discrediting the Aguilas win, we may say that the Pumas weak spots were more of a factor than the Coapa's expertise, though we must highlight their capacity of reaction. The Pumas controlled the match early, but were later undermined by their weaknesses in every front. The Aguilas just needed two finishing touches by Richard Nunez and Salvador Cabanas, for not even Memo Ochoa's intervention was necessary against the feeble Universitarios performance.

It's not serious to talk in hindsight, but today, seeing the Pumas in the basement of the 2008 Clausura Tournament, we remember the surprising decision by Tuca Ferreti. He decided that a young Pumas team should get into pace in the Interleague Tournament while the starters stayed in Mexico City to regain their strength for the league opening, after playing the finals against Potros. And today, the Universitarios are completely out of pace and sulking with their production.

THE ADJUSTMENTS DIDN'T WORK OUT
Tecos caught the Champions by surprise in Cancun (2-1), but not by chance.
Atlante didn't have the praised capacity of reaction and Pepe Cruz' adjustments didn't work out as they did against Jaguares and Pumas.

Until minute 87, the Azulgrana scored, but luck didn't follow. The Universitarios started dominating the action and clinched the game with a great goal by Chilean Hugo Droguett and another by Rafael Marquez Lugo (his second overall).
Coach Jaime Odiales is starting to play with his cards, something we like to see because he's one of the many Mexicans trying making a place for themselves.
The Azulgrana are showing signs of wear and tear after their efforts last tournament, with less time to rest and get ready. Pumas are struggling with the same difficulties.

GOOD AND BAD MOVES
When a team goes out there with a good shot, operates well and is capable of making the most out of their rivals' mistakes, we get what happened in Jalisco and Azul.

The Monarcas went to pieces without defense Mauricio Romero (ejected), and order turned into absolute chaos. So Chivas seized the opportunity by relying on their most skilful players, who turned out to have better aim and speed than their rivals. Coach David Patino failed the big test, as the Rojiblancos won the super leadership.

A few hours before, the Machine faced another rival who surprisingly fell through completely. Incredible, being their mentor Raul Arias, an ace in strategy and defense. The gladiators withstood blows during 45 minutes, thanks to the skills of goalkeeper Andian Martinez. Then, there was no capacity of reaction after the first goal by Pablo Zeballos, and they were taken over by their rivals.

Chivas is still performing well and putting on a good show for the fans, but Jorge Vergara shouldn't celebrate just yet. The Guadalajara team still hasn't faced the best.

They played their best game, but that doesn't mean anything. Consistency is a key factor for the world to start believing in them.

HE'S TAKING HIS TIME
Ricardo La Volpe has coached three matches for Monterrey and still doesn't find the way to exploit his team. The rival counts, true; there are circumstances that affect the result, true; and there's always the luck factor. However, he shouldn't be having such a rough time. The best thing for him and his team is they haven't lost. But only two goals are not enough for a highly offensive coach.

FANTASY GAME
Rising players:

1. Sergio Santana, Chivas forward. He's making the leap, finally, after improving some of his weak spots. He's growing as a player; he has a hand in most of his team's plays, as happened in the thrashing of Morelia. He felt confident to draw and score two penalties, and collaborated with an assist.
2. Cesar Villaluz, Cruz Azul winger. He is one of the most dangerous players of his team. On his return to the league, after a two-game suspension, Cesar was a key factor in the midfield and scored a great goal.
3. Antonio Naelson, Toluca winger. He's a great player; it's not by chance that he's back on Mexico's National Team.
4. Richard Nunez, America forward. He's already shown that against weak opponents he becomes overly aggressive in his eagerness to overwhelm his rivals. However, he's also proven his skill against stronger opponents, as in the match against Pumas, when he scored a good one and made a great assist for a Salvador Cabanas goal. If only his quality soccer was seen in every game.
5. Salvador Cabanas, America forward. We are already used to him standing out in his team. He really doesn't care about his rival's quality or condition; he's always looking to score. With his effort Sunday, with a goal and an assist for a Nunez goal, he proved to have no half-tones.

Losing stock:
1. Esteban Solari, Pumas forward. He didn't deliver against America as was expected. But then again, no one in his team is playing at a good level. The finals are weighing on them.
2. Ignacio Scocco, Pumas forward. He hasn't recovered from the last tournament either, and they have yet to profit from their preseason. A his fellow countryman, he's also missing in the league.
3. Javier Campora, Puebla forward. He came to Angelopolis as a reinforcement, but he's not delivering. He lacks precision and accuracy. In the first match against America, he squandered a good chance to score and did the same last Sunday against Necaxa.
4. Fabian Cubero, Tigres defense. Let's hope he doesn't repeat the results of his debut, when ejections were so frequent that he spent more time in punishment than on the field. In Toluca he was ejected after attempting to assault Santiago Fernandez.
5. Moises Munoz, Morelia goalkeeper. Against Chivas he made one of the worst mistakes in his position: repelling at center. Marco Fabian made a second attempt and scored. He has a National Team calling at stake.

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