ESPN Deportes Fútbol - México

MEXICO -- We haven´t seen such an emotive liguilla as the one that started the last weekend of the Mexican football; It was a liguilla filled with pain, emotion and surprise.

Somehow, the spirit of Antonio de Nigris prowled around the four ends. And Tano did not disappoint. He gave a goal to Aldo, which helped to seal the victory of Monterrey against the America. At the same time, Jared Borgetti asked for a goal to his ex teammate in the National Team that was conceded.

The minute they took to applaud the late football player echoed in the Tecnologico, in the Cuauhtemoc, in the Alfonso Lastras and in the Territorio Santos Modelo. But when the game started, the guests of the liguilla buried themselves in a battle with different characteristics, all of them with a tendency to fulfill their personal interests. And although there have been three victories and a tie, nothing is definite yet in the face of the semi-finals. There's still a lot to see in these quarter finals.

GOING ONE´S OWN WAY
The outbreak of emotion that the Tec witnessed didn´t affect the action of the Rayados and the Aguilas. If there had been some reaction, which wasn´t the case, it would have been the injuries of Luis Perez and Gerardo Galindo on the side of the Rayados.

If the football displayed wasn´t to the complete fans liking, the victory was for the one that bet the most to get it. Victor Manuel Vicetich move forward some lines with some restrictions, but that was enough to end 1-0.

The Aguilas didn´t put their feet to the floor, since they are pinning their hopes on the game of the Azteca, where in the regular tournament only the Morelia escaped 2-1. There, they scored but also got ties. If Jesus Ramirez wants to play safe, they shouldn´t go to Vucetich. Afterwards, things could get a bit complicated; only an early goal could turn things around.

WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT
Although in the liguilla anything goes to win the title, the Toluca disappointed in San Luis. They weren´t ambitious enough despite having a great team, and after having the ball in their possession more time.

Chepo de la Torre didn´t unleash his people and the scoreboard in favor of the Gladiadores says everything (1-0). On Sunday, in the Nemesio Diez, we will know if the rojos made a mistake in the game planning. Let´s hope they don´t end up the same way as in the Clausura 2009, when the Indios of Ciudad Juarez eliminated them after ending 1-0 and a tie without scoring a single goal in the Bombonera.

San Luis didn´t risk much either, but they entered as the victims and ended as the winners after scoring a goal. A single goal means nothing if during the other 90 minutes, the game plan is not the right one. Coach Miguel Angel Zurdo Lopez will have the game of his life.

AT FULL STEAM
Every game in the liguilla should have goals and emotion in abundance. That´s why we choose the Puebla-Cruz Azul game, the one that ended 4-4. It was a typical match of the finals. After a defensive mistake, another one and one more took place, and the last one allowed the Maquina to tie the game with the Cuautemoc.

The intensity displayed was more a consequence of the defensive errors and the good moves in the offensive end. What is difficult to believe is that after so many goals, Emanuel Villa didn´t score a single one.

The ones who saw the match were satisfied, but that wasn´t the case of Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, Chelis and his colleague Enrique Meza. Four goals allowed are too many in 90 minutes, but it seems the team of the Franja is accustomed to it. In the last three official games they allowed ten goals, eight of them from the Cruz Azul.

What I didn´t like of this spectacular duel was the arbitration of Eric Ramirez, who omitted a penalty in favor of the Puebla; did well when ejected Roberto Carlos Juarez, but didn´t see the punch of Melvin Brown. He wasn´t fair and there will be consequences.

ONE MORE

Santos-Morelia also had its objections. Although Carlos Ochoa scored two goals in the victory 2-1 and turned into the face of the liguilla, and the man to follow by the Santos when he visits Morelia.

Referee German Arredondo was one of the protagonists, he made bad choices that one way or another affected the scoreboard. He could have penalized the hand of Chato Rodriguez in the zone. He shouldn´t have sent Matias Vuoso off after he claimed things any player does and a lot of times is simply ignored. I´m not excusing the tantrum of the Argentine-Mexican player had, but that action didn´t deserve a red card.

And with nothing more in mind than keeping the control of the game and scoring to break the tie (1-1), even with ten players, the Santos excelled with a goal of Ochoa and this zone is not defined yet. The Monarcas should have the same performance they had at home and give us another exciting game next time they play.

Graciela Reséndiz es reportera de futbol mexicano y colaboradora de ESPNdeportes.com. Consulta su archivo de columnas.