MEXICO CITY -- The competition system of Mexican soccer provokes emotion and uneasiness at the closing stages of the tournament.
Veracruz has already waved goodbye to the First Division and the fans are crying out their pains. Chivas continues to be the best of Clausura 2008, with one and two points more than its two nearest followers (Cruz Azul and San Luis, respectively) but still unable to clinch the classification.
Four teams have qualified all at once: Toluca, Jaguares, Santos and Monterrey, and two more will qualify directly aside from the other two that will emerge from the wild card phase. The stories that happen in Mexican soccer are quite amazing, and all of them cover, in one way or another, the desires and the laments of the fans.
WHAT A FIGHT!
When the league started, nobody thought that Group III was going to be the most disputed one. Chivas loomed as the favorite, knowing that Cruz Azul has had its ups and downs lately and that San Luis has always been a small team.
However, one game away from the end of the regular season, the Machine and the gladiators are locked in a tight battle. Chivas overwhelmed an already surrendered Puebla for 4-0, but they are still waiting to qualify. The light-blues won (1-0 against Morelia) and they want the first place. San Luis gave away one point at home against Atlas (0-0) and they are now in wild card zone.
Waiting for the next weekend, all three of them will visit their dangerous rivals: Chivas will meet Jaguares, a team searching to become leaders of Group I, Cruz Azul will face Atlas, which is looking for a wild card, and San Luis will clash against the powerful Santos, stubbornly determined to end the tournament in second place overall.
OMAR HITS THE HUNDRED MARK
Omar Bravo has logged an important record in his career in Mexican soccer. As part of a club with so much history as Chivas, Omar shines and demonstrates that his aim is still sharp. With the one he scored against Puebla he reached the 100-goal benchmark after being denied during several games. He's got it already, and he also has enough time to keep aiming for the legendary Chava Reyes, with a 122-goal mark wearing the red-and-white jersey.
VERACRUZ IS GONE
So long. Will you ever make it back to the First Division? No, unless the government of the state of Veracruz can find the right people to manage the future of the club and to close the doors to opportunists who are only looking forward to fill their pockets with Money.
Governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán recognizes that he knows nothing about soccer, and due to this he feels responsible for having hired Alberto de la Torre as administrator, a man who has already left the institution. The truth is that he may be able to win the lottery again if he finds the right, well-intentioned and knowledgeable people he needs to send the Red Sharks back to the top circuit.
LATE REACTION?
In this situation, Pumas is not to be blamed for the disgrace of the "jarochos". All they did to Tuca Ferreti's boys was give them the last little push and continue fighting for the wild card. The 4-2 says a lot about the desire of the university's team. Regrettably, the reactions seems to be a little late, and all things point to the runner-ups biding adieu to Clausura 2008 after the 17th game. In order to stay alive they need to win, and they need Puebla to loose as well.
THERE WILL BE A NEW CHAMPION
Atlante has made a serious miscalculations, and they have ended eliminated. We will have a new champ, because the red-and-blue were unable to overcome the obstacles set in their path. Suspensions, injuries and bad games in general have precluded the team conducted by Pepe Cruz from defending their title.
The anecdote of the moment is that the job of sending them on their way downhill was in the hands of Ricardo La Volpe's Monterrey, their students. When he works comfortably, La Volpe is the king of strategy, and everything works for him. Back in the day he didn't pity Piojo Herrera and Veracruz either, with that nasty 7-2 in Game 13.
HE CRUMBLED
Emilio Maurer foresaw a defeat of Puebla at Jalisco (althought not by a high score) and Chivas didn't let him down. It was not all about what Chivas did, but rather because obviously the guys with the single stripe crumbled against the super leader, and it was not a happenstance. Chelís, always lauded, erred the strategy, and by choosing a defense-first approach he provoked confusion amongst his players, and this resulted in the ample defeat that ensued.
It is true that Javier Cámpora had a goal annulled before Chivas had scored first, but only the final score matters, and this one was 4-0. In spite of the defeat, they still can catch the wild card if they beat Atlante on Sunday.
A TRUE SHAME
Lacking the class of a big team, Tigres fought for their lives at the closing of the tournament. One day before they faced Santos they were already saved, thanks to Veracruz's early demise. And not even with the reassured feeling of knowing themselves out of harm's way were they able to defeat the University. The worse is that in the last 10 minutes they lost both the game and the last chance they had to seek the re-qualification. All his rival had to do was counterpunch twice with Fernando Arce and Lorito Jiménez. "Gata" Fernández shortened distances, and yet nothing happened.
By the way, a strong sanction can be expected for Fernández due to his aggression of Arce. The player for Santos was unable to finís the game due to his profuse nose-bleeding.
FANTASY GAME
Players on the rise:
1.- Humberto Suazo, forward for Monterrey. He can't stop scoring. Scored two in the classification of his team against Atlante, and he is almost claiming the scoring title.
2.- Esteban Solari, forward for Pumas. Colaborated with two goals to help his team cling on their wild card hopes. Anything can happen in the last game, and Solari won't stop looking to score at all costs.
3.- Oswaldo Sánchez, goalkeeper for Santos. He looked impecable again in their victory over Tigres. Stayed focused and collected at all times. Made easy plays as well as difficult ones such as Cubero's kick, and always kept his calm.
4.- Jesús Arellano, midfielder for Monterrey. He's playing well and feeling comfortable with the tournament that apparently will be his final season. He's being more constant with good serves. The two assists that ended in Chupete Suazo's goals started on his feet.
5.- Itamar Baptista, forward for Jaguares. Against San Luis he failed several attempts at the goal, but when he balanced his eagerness he scored the clincher after using speed, strength and a lot of technique in his shot.
Players on the way down:
1.- Lucas Lobos, forward for Tigres. It was his turn to demonstrate that he could still be on the team. Was able to reach the goal but lacked the cool to resolve a game in which everything seemed under control.
2.- Fabiano Pereira, midfielder for Necaxa. His technical prowess is beyond any doubts, but in the important moments he lacks the calmness to round up his plays by scoring. Against America he failed to score, with the goal wide open, what would have been the 3-0.
3.- Cristian Giménez, midfielder for Pachuca. Was not the midfield patrolman of his team, didn't appear when his precise services were needed, and thus Jaguares won and qualified.
4.- Gabriel Pereyra, midfielder for Atlante. From one week to the other he lost precision to turn plays into dangerous scoring situations. Was unable to maintain his good soccer, and the team will wave goodbye to the tournament next week.
5.- Jorge Villalpando, goalkeeper for Puebla. While he is not to blame for the defeat, he is to blame for not displaying assuredness against Chivas' early onslaught. His nerves failed him when trying to choose the play before the first goal. He failed and left the ball floating around for Gaucho Ávila to score.