Game 10: Necaxa home

PUMAS v Necaxa
24th September 2006
CU

Video Highlights

Normally a late equaliser tells of a point saved, but here we definitely dropped two points. Necaxa have not had it very well of late, but usually play very defensive and hit on the break. Under Tuca we are playing a similar system of slow controlled possession football, building intense pressure until the opponents crack. All reports suggested Sancho would be fit again, but in the end he didn’t play, we started 5-3-2, and my hope of seeing Gonzalez and Scocco together was realised.

So, playing 5-3-2, with Espinoza as wing back on the right and Castro on defensive midfield duty. This gave us a very odd shape indeed, Espinoza was much further forward than Velarde, and Leandro playing very deep, as in the first half v Chivas. I don’t know how deliberate this is, but he stayed deep all day, and this really is a waste of his talents, I believe.

Had to put up with the bloody Fifa Fair Play anthem, as it was international fair play day (which Pumas got into the spirit of:- we received no cards at all for the first time this season), this was drowned out, however by the chanting of the names of our old boys. In fact both Jerry Galindo, and Joaquin Beltran got superb welcomes from both the players and faithful. Dario Veron introduced his month old baby to them, we chanted both Beltran’s name and the old “capitan” song, and he came over at full time to salute us. Kléber also went to shake hands with Tuca, the man who brought him to Mexico when at Tigres.

Finally we get going, and all was going according to plan. We had the early chances, and also playing according to Tuca’s preferred method: - slow possession football, attempting to build the pressure on them. Looked like coming off (23 mins) as Parejita brought down a long ball at full stretch, and full speed, inside the box and fired it across the face of goal, Ariel Gonzalez missed the ball completely. He really should have got anything on it, and it was a massive let off for Necaxa. Things got worse less than a minute later. Sideshow miscleared, Moreno was too far forward, Kléber passed to Olivera, who in a one on one with Bernal made no mistake.

It was a severe double whammy for us. Everything had been going according to plan, but giving this goal away did not appear to be in the plan at all, and we looked like we had been knocked sideways by it, taking us to half time to fully recover.

At half-time Reinaldo came on for the disappointing Espinoza, and this made our shape even odder, not sure exactly what it was, seemed like 3-4-3 (or, at times a sort of 3-2-2-3 if that makes much sense:- didn’t to me). We certainly grew throughout the second half, but unfortunately continued to squander good chances, Reinaldo and Gonzalez, and Chupa Lopez (replacing Gonzalez) all missing, or messing up, decent chances. Just when it looked like we could play all day without scoring, Parejita put in (another) good cross; Scocco had got himself into a good position, and once again made no mistake with a well taken header.

So all in all, the plan worked more or less, we had the best of it, but really should not have been in a position whereby we felt we got away with a draw, should have killed them, needed to be more vicious in front of goal. We are still doing most things right, just needs to click a little better, but I really am confident that we will be fine.

Ratings:-

Bernal – 7 - decent, always hard in a one on one, got a 7 not a six because he actually held onto a long shot, and didn’t punch it away.

Velarde – 8 – El “Chispa”, having played a complete part in all games this season, was finally subbed off. Good game again. (subbed 62 mins)
Moreno – 7 – another solid game, partly to blame for goal
Veron – 8 – Solid, organised.
Pikolin – 6 – partly to blame for the goal, but sat on Kleber quite effectively, distribution poor. Too often played team-mates into trouble with short balls, or simply hoofed it upfield to no effect.
Espinosa – 5 – disappointing again, didn’t seem to grasp the role Tuca wanted for him (subbed half time). Gave away too many silly balls.

Castro – 6 – not really his position, did ok, but I felt it was his failings which led Leandro to, too often, come back to do his job for him.
Leandro – 7 – not his best, too deep, broke a lot up, but didn’t really create much.
Parejita – 9 – MOM – another excellent showing, got knocked about hard 2nd half, ran it off. Always looking for the ball. Corners got better as day went on, and his crossing was excellent. Some lovely close control to boot. Always in space, always wanting it.

Gonzalez – 6 – another tricky one, ran all day, made some lovely moves, some great runs, nice lay-offs, but, he seemed confused with his back to goal, and finishing very poor. (subbed 65 mins)
Scocco – 9 – maybe generous, but once again great touches, nice control, can rob the ball like he is shelling peas, and of course a lovely and very important finish. Always a danger, a fascinating battle between a new hero and an old one, v Beltran.

SUBS:-
Reinaldo – 6 – half time – think he has some confidence problems in front of goal, choked a couple of times, but is growing in other aspects of his game
Morales – 6 – 62 mins – didn’t excel
Lopez – 5 – 65 mins – entered with ganas, but flattered to deceive, and also missed a good chance.

DT:-
Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti – 6 – Seems completely lost for ideas without his Antonio Sancho, needs to make sure he can find a secure system which allows Leandro to attack more. Subs: - half time, possibly “brave”, maybe brought our midfield more into it, the others, well both Espionza and Gonzalez were not on top form, so had to do something.

Cards:-
None for us, 3 for them.

Goals:-
23 mins 0-1 Pikolin gave it away, good work between Kléber and Nicolás Olivera, who entered the box alone and stuck inside Bernal’s right post.
81 mins 1-1 Scocco passed the ball out wide to Pareja, and continued his run. Pareja put in a lovely cross, finding the same Ignacio Scocco unmarked in the heart of the area, who headed home.

Crowd:-
35,000, including Salvador Reyes, manager of Los Gallos Blancos (The White Cocks) of Queretaro, who we meet next week.

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
A few draws around, and a few upsets: - Veracruz did Jaguares 3-1, and lowly Tecos did Chivas 2-1. Monterrey at 1-0 up in the Azteca had a very very very onside goal disallowed, when that happens there you know what is going to happen, and America got 1-1. Santos still search their first win of the season holding Tigres 2 all. Pachuca beat San Luis 3-0, and Toluca failed to score, nil-all with Atlas. Cruz Azul’s mad season continue, winning the first four games of the season, including an historic win in Jalisco, they now have 2 points from the last 6 games. They had a ding dong battle with Monarcas de Morelia, during which the lead changed 3 times, and ended up 4-4.

AND the day after us drawing 1-1 with them (today), Necaxa have announced their new manager: - none other than Hugo Sanchez. Legendary Mexican footballer, 5 times winner of the Pichichi (top-scorer in Spanish league), and only manager ever to win two “short” Mexican seasons back-to-back, when with Pumas. This is clearly a move to shoe him into the role he has always wanted: - Manager of the national team. That should be loads of fun; outspoken, arrogant and temperamental....

Interesting fact:-
A new feature! (There’s been nothing interesting up until now…) This weeks interesting fact is that Necaxa were the only team Beckham got a red card against in his entire time at Manchester United.

Quiz question:-
Another new feature! I mentioned that Velarde had played a complete role in all games this season, until this one. So who are the four Pumas players with 900 minutes played so far?

Group 3:- we are still in a qualifying position for the Liguilla
1st Toluca 21pts +14
2nd America 18pts +5
3rd PUMAS 16pts +4
4th Morelia 11pts -4
5th Tigres 10pts -10
6th Santos 5pts -7

Descenso bottom five:-
1.2500 San Luis 55 from 44
1.2436 Veracruz 97 from 78
1.2000 Queretaro 12 from 10
1.1667 PUMAS 91 from 78
1.1410 Santos 89 from 78

Next Up:-
Away at Queretaro, at the World Cup ’86 stadium of La Corregidora From the table above you can see how important a win there is. Also next week the Mexican “classic”, Chivas v America.