MEXICO CITY -- It is said that Alberto de la Torre, to whom the government of the state of Veracruz gave the power to do and undo anything he wished with the local team, has thrown in the tonel now that the Red Sharks are close to descending to the lower category. The former president of the Federación Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) has never been known to be afraid of adversity. He has screwed up a few times, but he never ran for cover, ever. We hope it's just a rumor, because what Veracruz needs is to gather all its strength to achieve what seems to be impossible: eluding the loss of the category. After losing 2-0 against Puebla they virtually took a step into no-man's land, three games before the end of the regular season. The percentage table looks as follows: Veracruz, last; Puebla, second-from-last, and Tigres third-from-last.
And the struggle is being won by the Stripped team, who needs only four points to survive. However, they may be able to get ahead if they defeat Pachuca in their next game and the Red Sharks lose in their visit to Chiapas.
Game 15 will be vital for Veracruz, Puebla and also for the Arbitrage Commission. The election of the referees should be made consciously, because the clubs risk an important capital. In this type of games the experience of the main referee must prevail, along with his common sense and cold blood.
The problem for Tigres is somewhat smaller: they are practically saved with one victory or a couple of draws.
RED AND WHITE CLASSIC
Chivas took home the 200th classic against America (3-2), in a two-faced game. The red-and-white pummeled the Eagles in the first part and they just couldn't stop missing goals. In the second part, they trusted themselves against a rival who was already playing with 10 men, but with a lot of heart. In spite of his team's loss, Salvador Cabañas became the hero with two scores.
America is still at the bottom of the Clausura 2008 tournament, while Chivas stays way on top of it. Omar Bravo, meanwhile, is still waiting to score the 100th goal of his career.
SANTOS, CLOSE TO QUALIFYING
The first team to qualify for the playoffs is about to arrive. Without making a lot of noise, Santos is one step away from claiming the pass after beating Atlas by a whooping 6-1. The team coached by Daniel "el Travieso" Guzmán was a hurricane at Corona stadium, with Matías Vuoso and Cristian Benítez in command of the slaughter.
Santos Laguna is minding its own business. They have kept the leaders at bay, chopping wood and playing games as tough as last Sunday's. They don't have the pressure of being the leaders as they did in last year's tournament, and they are running fast and steady. A win against Necaxa will be their clincher.
PUMAS, A DECEPTION
They are simply biding adieu to the classification. Their current record includes three straight defeats, the latest being their 2-1 debacle against Cruz Azul. The defending sub-champs are unrecognizable. They are unable to react and now they are last in Group I with 15 points.
Ricardo Ferretti is very close to losing his job, because if at the end of the regular season he does not take the team to the playoffs then the renewal of his contracts will be in peril. With nine points at stake, he needs to win it all to stay afloat, and with a little bit of luck he might either make it or get the chance to fight for a wild card spot.
THE MACHINE, IN THE WILD CARD RACE
Being in the most competitive group in the league has been detrimental for the Machine. Chivas has settled in first place with 29 points (3-2 against América) and San Luis in second place with 26 (1-1 against Tecos). Today they are third with 25 units, and right now they have the wild card in the bag. And the defending champs of Atlante, after a mediocre performance, still aspire to a direct ticket and to the reclassification thanks to their placement in the weakest group.
CANDIDATE TO THE TRICOLOR?
Matías Vuoso jumped to second place in the scoring ranks with the three goals he scored against Atlas. With nine, he reached his countryman Claudio Graf, but the best part is that he is being evaluated by Jesús Ramírez.
Vuoso is Mexican by optino and has all the rights that any other Mexican-born player may have. His name is in Chucho's mind, who aside from playing against China has two more games at the helm of the Mexican national squad. And in those two lists anything can happen.
FANTASY GAME
Players on the rise:
1.- Matías Vuoso, striker for Santos. He is showing that the team that suits him best is the one from the Laguna. If he doesn't shine with goals such as the three he scored against Atlas, he does it with assists. His aim is lethal. He is now in the fight for the scoring title.
2.- Cristian Bernítez, striker for Santos. In this alter part of the tournament he is flourishing. His quality is beyond suspicion, even though he had become lost between Vuoso's omnipresence and the absence of Daniel Ludueña. He scored twice against Atlas and one of those was a beautiful goal, from midfield he eluded several rivals, dodged the 'keeper and just blasted the goal.
3.- Sergio Santana, striker for Chivas. He always adds to the team, even though it may not show on the field. He's a forward, but is used to play as a midfielder and even as a defender. In the classic he was in the attack and scored two goals against America. He is a consistent player.
4.- Álvaro González, forward for Puebla. Nobody doubts his opportunism in any field or the sense of honor he brings into every game. Against Veracruz he paved the way towards his team's victory, and now he has eight goals in his account. Wants to become scoring champ.
5.- Gastón Fernández, forward for Tigres. Even though he failed a penalty kick that may have given his team the victory, he had a good participation in 90 minutes. He fought for the ball that Carlos Esquivel cashed out into a goal and scored the tying goal against Morelia (2-2).
Losing stock:
1.- Paulo da Silva, defender for Toluca. He is back on this list. Failed again when his team needed him most for his experience and confidence. This time he had the responsibility of scoring a penalty that he later failed, when the scoring board was still blank.
2.- Diego Cervantes, defender for América. Has the merit of a great assist that Salvador Cabañas turned into a notch in the scoreboard, but his main task is in the backline, and he didn't deliver. He was robbed of a ball he had thoroughly controlled that was later turned into a goal by Sergio Santana.
3.- Edoardo Isella, defender for América. Wrong decision by Rubén Omar Romano: he sent him to the field after a long period of inactivity. The boy came to cover the loss of Sebastián Domínguez, and against Chivas played his first game in the league. He only exhibited a lack of rhythm and coordination in a very important game.
4.- Leandro Augusto Oldoni, midfielder for Pumas. Always plays in the right position, although this time he failed. He participated in the two goals scored by Cruz Azul, lacked the determination when it was time to grab balls that later ended in goals scored by Zeballos and Torrado.