Game 13: Tecos (UAG) home

Pumas v Tecos
15th October 2005
CU

Video Highlights

The moment our season hung in the balance. Scocco prepares to take a penalty. We had been struggling to find the net against 10 men Tecos, with the leakiest defence in the league (30 from 12), when the (poor) ref gifted us a pen. Just the break we needed. But… if Nacho missed it I could see us cracking completely, and relegation becoming a certainty. As the picture shows, however, young Coco took a moment for his thoughts, and made no mistake; we are up off the mat once again.

Having got only 3 points from the last four games, it was essential that we won this game, Tecos have been underachieving all season, we were at home, and we could pull them closer in the table of relegation – they had 99 to our 92 points. In the end we did it, although far from convincing maybe this will give the team the boost and belief they need ahead of the big derby v America.

Not having Bernal and Veron was always going to be a worry, and although Moreno and Pikolin had some problems at times, keeping a clean sheet will give them all a boost, including “RoRo” Rodriguez, playing his first full 90 minutes in over a year.

The first good news was that Sancho was back, and Tuca opted for (to an extent, he was forced into) 4-4-2. Espinoza coming in at right back, Castro in central midfield with the skipper (Sancho), Leandro out on the left, Scocco and Gonzalez up front.

For me the most important thing was to get through the first 30 minutes or so without conceding, as most of the goals we have conceded this season have been in first 25 minutes. We managed this with only a couple of worries. The first half did not bring many chances at all, Scocco had a long shot which was caught easily by “Chuy” Corona, for some the best keeper in Mexico. Also very early doors a bubbly Parejita stole the ball brilliantly and put in a decent cross, but that was about it for the first half.

Sorry Kenny, a word on the ref: - Germán Arredondo Ramírez. This is his 11th season in top flight Mexican football, and he averages slightly more than one red card every other match. Luckily for us it went for us, as he awarded Urieta a second yellow on the stroke of half time.

Tuca went straight for the throat, by bringing Reinaldo on for Espinosa and switching to a more attacking formation at the break. Unfortunately it did not seem to work, as the last ball continued to let us down. However we were growing, Scocco beginning to show the skill at getting passed defenders we love, and Leandro looking better, and more confident in a more central role.

Scocco robbed the ball, got passed a couple, but, like Kingsley Black before him, always wants to take on one more. He lost the ball, but managed to toe poke it towards Gonzalez. He did some good battling work, but we still did not really have control of the ball completely: - Gonzalez went down, and the ref gave a penalty. Tricky said it was clear; it looked like it to me in the stadium, although John was not so sure. Record and Tecos skipper Juan Leaño both say it clearly wasn’t. In fact the Tecos defender had quite a rant about how refs are giving non-penalties against them, and using different criteria for red cards to other teams; he seems to sense a conspiracy against them.

Anyway, Nacho Scocco stepped up, took a few moments for a breather, and slotted it home. His fourth goal in the league, and his first with his feet, his last non-headed goal being also a penalty v Peñarol in the pre-season friendly.

It would not be fair to say this finished them off, but we did grow in confidence, some nice chances coming in, from good work, notably by Gonzalez, Leandro, Parejita and Scocco. I feel Gonzalez will get some static from this performance, and probably Chupa will start with Scocco next game, but I feel it is unfair. He battled well, showed good vision, good ideas, and should be kept in first 11.

When Tuca brought Scocco off on 76 minutes for Chupa Lopez, you can imagine our outrage…. this was not a good decision. And seconds later with the ball in the back of our net it looked worse. Luckily the linesman had flagged for off-side, looked harsh in the stadium, but Tricky said it was clear on the telly.

Four minutes later I was still moaning about Chupa Lopez when Castro put in a lovely pass, and he beat Reinaldo to it, to finish nicely. I fear this will get him a start, although if he maintains the movement and ganas he showed today that might not be so bad. Late on Reinaldo had a great chance to finish it off in style, but failed to either really test the keeper, or make the simple square pass to the free Parejita in the centre.

Unconvincing, certainly, and while on paper two-nil at home is a solid result, they don't play it on paper (tm K Cumming), and this was not a performance to write home about. But, that said, they need to take that result and build on it, we need to see more creativity, more urgency and more security at the back. Great to see Sancho comfortable for a full 90 mins straight up, and with Veron back we could look good.

Ratings:-
Rodriguez – 7 – solid performance, only one slight moment, seems to have good understanding with his team-mates already.

Velarde – 7 – This young man at left-back reminds me of Rob. He is so consistently good, both defending and going forward you forget about his lack of experience.
Moreno – 7 – Positionally sound, pretty solid
Pikolin: - 7 – really not too many mistakes, got nut-megged and skinned late on, but overall solid. His work getting the ball out of defence was simple, but sound. He seemed to relish the responsibility of being the most experienced defender today.
Espinosa: - 7 – much better from him today, seems more comfortable as right-back now. (subbed half time)
A word on the back four: - Overall sound as a back four, and without Veron. And it will be a boost for all of them that they conceded none. However. Ludueña and Casartelli are both pretty lively, and caused them some problems. We were fortunate in that their finishing was way off the mark today.

Leandro – 7 – a game of two halves today. Playing wide left first half he was not impressive, and merited only a 6. He also seemed low in confidence. Second half, more central, he was more his old self, and really came alive for a 15-20 min period. 2nd half deserved an 8.
Sancho – 7 – Not completely sharp, as you’d expect, but was impressed that he kept going for the full game, after a month lay-off. A few miss-passes and missed tackles, but we look so much better shape-wise with him back.
Castro – 7 – impressed me today, and a lovely pass for the second goal.
Parejita – 7 – looked bubbly, although not everything came off for him. Definitely up for it today. Yellow boots first half, white (or maybe silver?) second half.

Scocco – 8 – MOM – quiet-ish first half, but began to turn it on second half, and there was enormous pressure on the penalty kick, it was make or break time, and he stepped up without any qualms, composed himself and took it well. (subbed 76 mins)
Gonzalez – 7 – I really though he had a good game, and is so strong and determined in and around the box, he adds something the other options don’t have. (subbed 84 mins)

SUBS:-
Reinaldo – 7 – (half time) – more movement again today, added to our attacking options. Missed a great chance late on, should have passed it, but can't really blame him for going for goal at two nil up.
Lopez – 7 – (76 mins) – much much better, well taken goal, and support and movement.
Barrera – 6 – (84 mins) not really on long enough.

DT:-
Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti - 8 – forced a little into his options, but made a bold decision in having Castro in midfield, and Espinosa at right back, and it worked. Playing Leandro as wide left when needs must is always tempting, but its not where he is strongest, but again he changed this. Half time change excellent, pouring the pressure on the depleted opponents. Still concerned about how we don’t seem to be able to play at all successfully against 10 men. Bringing Lopez on for Scocco looked an awful decision, especially when they immediately scored. But it was disallowed, and Chupa scored a couple of minutes later, so it becomes an inspired change. That’s football. Good to give Pablo Barrera a run out, too. Also great credit for picking up RoRo in the summer.

Cards:-
Pumas
Sancho – 72 mins
Gonzalez – 73 mins
Leandro – 82 mins
Chupa – 86 mins.

Tecos
Urieta – 25 mins and 45 mins
Colotto – 57 mins
Medina – 60 mins
Leaño – 83 mins
Not sure what any of ours were for, bad ref; around the time of the penalty he very nearly lost control of the game completely.

Goals:-
1-0 - 58 mins – Good battling work in the box from Ariel Gonzalez led to the penalty, taken calmly by Ignacio Scocco.
2-0 - 80 mins – lovely filtered ball into the box from Castro, Ariel “Chupa” Lopez ran onto it and hit it, right footed, across the keeper into the far post.

Crowd:-
35,000. I am sure, once again, it was less, nearer 25K

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
Los Gallos Blancos de Queretaro continue doing well, they show a lot of heart those lads, and did us a favour for once, beating America 1-0. tee hee. Cruz Azul finally win at home again, beating Atlas 2-1 in a bright and enjoyable game in the rain (which we attended). Chelito is beginning to really be back to his top form again. Santos still have not won this season, but held second placed Jaguares nil all, which puts them 4 points below us now. Jaguares seem to have gone off the boil a bit recently. Super-leaders Toluca draw 2-2 with Atlante, who must have more going for them than I can see. Monterrey beat Tigres 2-1, they are in our sights, and Pachuca and Veracruz draw. Chivas beat San Luis 1-0. The final game, Necaxa v Morelia was suspended after about 40 minutes, because of standing water. It had started a good game, but the incessant fierce downpour made the pitch unplayable, unfortunately. The first goal was in the second minute, the equaliser in the sixth. This was a great goal from Alfredo Moreno of Necaxa, from a few yards from the half-way line. The keeper was not out of position, it was just perfectly placed just dipping under the bar.

Pumas Morelos:-
Win again v Tampico Madero, also 2-0. Goals from Gaston Capri and Pedro Solis. Odin Patiño keeps goal, and also playing were David Toledo and Orlando Pineda. Coming on as subs Franz Torres and Pablo Bonnells.

Things are hotting up in the fight for the liguilla, with no fewer than 6 teams on 20 points, we would still sneak in on goal difference, however.
Group3:-
1st Toluca 23pts +13
2nd America 21 pts +3
3rd Pumas 20pts +5
4th Monarcas 14pts -5 (one game fewer played)
5th Tigres 10pts -18
6th Santos 7pts -12

Descenso – we are moving away from Santos, and closing down on Tigres and Tecos. Bottom 5:-
1.2716 Atlas 103 from 81
1.2346 Tigres 100 from 81
1.2222 Tecos 99 from 81
1.1728 PUMAS 95 from 81
1.1235 Santos 91 from 81

Next Up:-
The big one! Sunday 22nd October 4pm. All roads lead to the Azteca. America. You can see how important this is in the group, and although we have not been playing great, we tend to raise the game to play there. A draw and I’d be happy. In the last 6 league encounters there, we have drawn 4, and we have won 2. The last time they beat us in the league there was 29th October 2000, 2-1. Last two meetings we have won 3-1 and 3-0. Lovely stuff.