Game 7: Cruz Azul away

Cruz Azul v PUMAS
10th September 2006
Estadio Azul

Video Highlights

Just as there are 8 species of bears extant, Cruz Azul stuck 8 passed us last season. Both of us had two crucial South Americans returning from injury, Cesar “Chelito” Delgado for them, probably the best player in the Mexican league, and Leandro Augusto, the “lung” of the Pumas side.

History was not on our side:- we had not won in the Estadio Azul for 9 years, Chelito had scored 5 in 4 against us, and we had never beaten them with him playing. We were coming off a bad loss v Pachuca, and they had had a great start to the season, only to lose their last two games, they haven’t had a longer losing streak in donkey’s years.

My feeling was that if Tuca Ferretti went for 5-3-2 it could be a low scoring draw, but 4-4-2 would give us a high scoring loss:- razor sharp up front, they do have some defensive problems.

Some 30,000 turned up (6,000 less than capacity, although the away end was full to bursting) to see an interesting and close battle. We did indeed start with 5-3-2, and immediately we could see how much we missed the boy Leandro, we started brightest, but as the half wore on they came more and more into it. Once again we had managed to get our concentration levels high, and even losing the solid captain Sancho on 12 mins did not really interrupt our flow, he was replaced by Fernando Espinoza. We looked pretty solid at the back, the only worry being the acres of space they had consistently down the left, and of course a few flashes from Delgado, who is a real handful. We also did not really have anything down our left, and Reinaldo looked slow today, and did not really do much. The talk on the terraces was for him to come off at half time, some going for El Chupa Lopez, others (including me) for Gonzalez.

In fact the only change at half time was Parejita’s boots:- he went in wearing white ones, and came out with his bright red ones. He had had a couple of mis-controls in the first half, but to be fair to him, he has been playing so well recently we have become very unforgiving of the slightest mistake. One of the most exciting features of this game, for me, was we could really see him beginning to link very well with Scocco. Although defensively sound, we were always penetrating as well. Occasionally there was, however, a criminal lack of movement, one time causing Leandro to stop an attack, and simply hold the ball up (“pinche Brasiliano”) and hold is hands up in frustration.

Sorry, Kenny, but the ref seemed to have it in for us today, really giving them everything, and us very little, Scocco got booked for diving when he was clearly brought down, a variety of bad offsides decisions (especially against Parejita), although he did not shirk from a big decision against them when he had to.

So early in the second half we were building nicely, and you really felt a goal was coming, although it really could have been at either end, but our strongest period of the game was coming. On 55 mins Parejta took a corner, Moreno got up very well to head the ball down goal-wise, Scocco pounced to slot home:- 1-0. Or so we thought, the linesman had flagged “Coco” offside, despite Israel Lopez, out wide, playing him about 2 metres onside. A truly awful decision, which left us sure he had in for us. However, a few minutes later, Huiqui, already on a yellow, came in with a nasty elbow on Parejita he left him no choice but to show him a second yellow. We really believed we could win now, but had to score. It was all us now, they were clearly rattled, when, 10 minutes after the sending off, Scocco rose well, got ahead of the defender and headed an excellent Espinoza cross home.

We really did control the game now, although they kept pushing. We had a couple of chances to finish it off, but I was very impressed with the display of defending a one-nil lead we saw. With five minutes left we simply held the ball, passing it all over the park, simple passes, making space for one another, making their ten men run for nothing. All good stuff…..EXCEPT…. well, it was so good we interrupted “Como No Te Voy A Querer” to cheer every pass. As soon as we started this, that most familiar of phrases came into play:- “unnecessary error by Palacios”. He made a gift of a ball to Chelito, who made space, shot well, beat Bernal (hearts in mouth time), but it came ricocheting back off the post.. phew! Sideshow is going to be the death of me, I know it, but the post is part of the goalkeepers armoury, and Bernal had had a decent game.

Once again I felt overall we were maybe not positive enough, a lot sideways and backwards passing, but you could say it was intelligent patience, but we have to keep on top of that. But sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards, so I prefer to see it as patient building.

So an historic moment, the massed ranks of travelling support in great voice, and at full time, as I scanned across the colourful stadium at sunset, I spied none other than Medium-Sized Mick dancing a jig of joy under the floodlights…… Lovely stuff.

This weeks ratings a joint effort from me, and the boy Mason:-
Bernal – 7 – nervous game, one good save from Delgado

Castro – 7 – often playing too forward, and a bit inside, but good defensively and good going forward.
Palacios – 6 – want to give him more, but that last minute error, but did have much better game.
Veron – 8 – sound
Moreno – 7- solid (subbed 59)
Velarde – 8 – good game, Chelito switched sides because of him.

Sancho – 5 – too little time (subbed 12 injured).
Leandro – 8 – MOM - ooo, we missed you, faded a bit first half. Overall very good, providing the link, always positive, even in defence.
Pareja – 8 – got knocked about a bit second half, but looked keen, skilful and troublesome, worked hard again.

Scocco – 8 – runs, jinks, two goals took them both well.
Reinaldo – 5 – needs to have more to fit into this system, looked slow today, must be running out of opportunities. Static. (subbed off 70 mins)

SUBS
Espinoza – 8– 12 mins – excellent game, impressive.
Iñiguez – 5 – 59 mins – oh why oh why?
Alanis – 7 – 70 mins - willing, but a lot to learn. It is interesting to see Tuca trusting his Cantera, rather than his big signings, the Ariels, Lopez and Gonzalez.

DT
Tuca Ferretti – 8 - , formation correct for this game, and has obviously worked hard on getting his players to understand it. Maybe Reinaldo has had his chance, surprised to see him still on at beginning of second half. Made good changes at the right time to keep the pressure on them, went for the throat when Huiquis sent off.

GOAL:-
68 mins – Strong header from Scocco, enjoying an excellent cross from Fernando Espinoza

CARDS:-
Cruz Azul:-
J Huiqui 18 mins and 58 mins
G Torrado 49 mins (no need for him to stand over and shout at Pareja after he had been kicked again)
I Lopez 80 mins
PUMAS
Pareja 49 mins
Scocco 61 mins
Velarde 71 mins.

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
Omar Bravo well and truly back in the fold as he hits two in Chivas 4-0 destruction of Beltran’s and Galindo’s Necaxa. Tecos’ horrible season continues as Pachuca really get into gear, doing them 5-2. The teams we are up against for relegation, well Veracruz got another win 2-1 v Tigres. This is tough, because Veracruz are quite poor and disorganised, they really should be pushing harder for relegation. San Luis got a point in the tricky match at Jaguares (1-1), and Queretaro are showing more and more, as they took the lead away v Monterrey, fell behind, but came back to draw 2-2. Santos lost at home to America, which is good news in the descenso, but bad news in group 3. Toluca continue to be overall leaders, and far away in group 3, beating Morelia (also group 3) 2-1.

Descenso, bottom 5:-
1.2533 Veracruz 94 from 75
1.2439 San Luis 51 from 41
1.1600 Santos 87 from 75
1.1467 PUMAS 86 from 75
1.1429 Queretaro 8 from 7

Also, in the morning in CU, the “clasico” of Mexican American Football took place, and Pumas de UNAM scored with 11 seconds on the clock, to beat the “Aguilas Blancas” of Politécnico 7-9, so a great double victory day for the University.

NEXT UP:-
Wedensday night (13th Sept) at CU, v Monterrey, another must-win (I am getting bored of saying that, can’t we just leave it that they are all “must-wins“ this season?)