Game 1: Atlas home

Pumas v Atlas
22nd January 2007
CU

Video Highlights
1st Himno of new season
Dale O

Those not present had a greater impact on this match than those present. A large crowd had great hopes of seeing Ailton Da Silva’s return, but he watched from the stands, as he still is not 100% following an injury. RoRo was also up there, serving out a 2 match ban, following the Pachuca punch-up. What was more mystifying was Tuca not using Scocco.

Roro missing out was not so bad, Tuca has made it clear his number one is Bernal, newly called up to the Mexican squad. Today Israel Castro displayed the confident, concentrated, professional type of performance which has also led to a call up for him.

So we started 4-4-2, Jehu Chiapas on the left (how we wish Morales had stayed to cover Ailton), with Gonzalez and new boy Paco Palencia up front. From the very off we showed determination in all parts of the pitch. This Atlas team are decent down the flanks, and showed that today. Velarde did not have a good day defensively, and with Chiapas in front of him, we had a bit of a mess down our left, Leandro, and more often, Veron having to cover. Overall, however we did not have any real scares at the back.

Atlas have also new signings, all of whom played, Olivera from Necaxa, Jair Garcia, from Primera “A” (both of whom came off), and the annoying Chilean Reinaldo Navia, from San Luis. You will remember for him missing a series of sitters against us. Again he was jeered and abused here, he really is an idiot, and his awful attempt at an overhead kick gave us all joy.

Starting brightly we actually had the ball in the net after 15 minutes, a typical well taken hustling goal from Gonzalez who was sadly 2 yards offside. Worse Gonzalez had to go off straight away. This was a shame, he had started well, and running all over as always, not allowing the defence to settle at all. Chupa Lopez came on to replace him. Not Scocco. El Paisano has a second grade muscle injury to his right upper leg. He will miss next weeks game, and we will know more today about its severity.

We lost our way a bit after this injury for about ten minutes, but they were never seriously in it. Chupa had an excellent and spectacular overhead kick go just over, to show a flash of his talent, although Parejita was just behind him, unmarked. On 20 minutes a penalty as stone-cold and clear-cut as you could hope to see was turned down by the ref, right on the spot. I must say this ref did look a little bought, he gave them every tiny contact and turned down at least three two-footed from-behind fouls on our players. This penalty decision was as bad as you’ll see, and every single media source I have seen here in Mexico agrees 100%. Chupa, you can imagine, was less than happy, and got booked after final whistle, complaining.

No changes at half time, and we continued in much the same way, controlling the midfield, solid at the back, but failing in the last third. The last 15 minutes was all Pumas, but several missed chances, notably Paco Palencia in another one-on-one disaster, his second. I am hoping he is just rusty, and will get back to form soon. I think his contribution added to our midfield dominance, even if he was sadly lacking in front of the onion bag. Chupa also hit a good chance direct at the keeper, but overall we were taking the game to them, notably Pareja and Leandro.

So all in all a scrappy affair, which we had the best of. Carrying on from where we left off, defensively sound, better in midfield, and the same problems in the last third. The area where some types of players make their money, and make their names. Players like Ailton Da Silva and Ignacio Scocco.

Match Ratings:-

Bernal – 7 - not too much to do, excellent reading of the game today, a few punches a little uncertain.

Velarde – 6 - not a good game today, caught out of position way too often, although good going forward
Veron – 9 – MOM - absolutely awesome today. won everything, always found his man with every pass out. Had to cover Velarde a lot. Also had a good headed chance just over.
Pikolin – 7 - good game, solid, reading it well, too happy to hoof it forward, but some nice little passes too, worked well when Veron was out covering left
Castro – 8 - solid game, usual professional performance

Chiapas – 6 - not too impressive, and with Velarde not on song, the left was a bit of a mess, especially 1st half (subbed off 59 mins)
Sancho – 8 - good game, leading from the front, along with Leandro, gave us control in middle of park
Leandro – 8 - very good Leandro performance, charging runs, taking the game to them, set pieces not good today
Pareja – 8 - another good performance, again really showing more ganas than most of the team, always finding space, his team mates oddly not using him enough, crossing not up to scratch

Gonzalez – 7 - the energy and determination he shows is always great, first touch (as can happen with him) let him down once, took the (offside) goal well. hustle, hustle, hustle. 7 really the maximum you can have with only 15 mins. (subbed 16 mins)

Palencia – 6 - a few good runs, no understanding with his colleagues yet, helped control the centre but took his chances very badly, and that’s a number 9’s job (well, number 17 in this case)

Subs:-
Chupa Lopez – 6 – (16 mins) excellent over head kick narrowly over, clear cut pen turned down on him, but overall looked poor, and will NOT work, frustrating. Did look dangerous occasionally, but his low work rate annoys me. “Lazy and Greedy” was heard from the terraces (that was me, to be fair)
Iñiguez – 5 – (59 mins) poor. You know I don't like him, but Tuca had 4 or 5 better options.

DT
Ricardo “Tuca” Ferreti – 7 – difficult to know, without knowing if Scocco was unavailable. Bold starting line up, probably would have been correct if Gonzalez not injured. As to his substitutions, they were both wrong, and Chiapas should have been replaced at half time, although we do not have real left wing cover now, maybe could have pushed Leandro left, although not sure. He seemed uncertain and unconvincing in his changes (or non-changes)

Cards:-
Pumas
28 mins – Leandro
30 mins – Palencia
53 mins – Veron
90 mins+ - Chupa (usual post-match chat)

Atlas
26 mins – Navia – petulantly pushed Pikolin over
28 mins – Olivera
50 mins – Valdez
56 mins – Perez
80 mins – Robles
85 mins – Medina

Crowd:-
38,000

Pumas Morelia:-
Played Cruz Azul Hidalgo, also at midday Sunday, sadly lost 2-0. This is the second round, last week they beat the America affiliated team Socio Aguila 2-0 – HOORAY! Both goals from Pedro Solis.

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
A goalkeepers jornada, Monterrey’s Orozco keeping out a resurgent Santos, and their new keeper Oswaldo Sanchez being beaten last minute, giving Monterrey a 1-0 victory against the play. Veracruz’s Jorge Bernal played a blinder, including a remarkable triple save, to keep their game in Queretaro goalless. Cuauhtemoc Blanco had a great game, and scored a scorcher to give America 4-1 victory over San Luis, “El Loco” Abreu missing another weak penalty. Pick of the games, Cruz Azul 3, Pachuca 2, Jared Borgetti opening the scoring, before missing a couple of good chances. Tecos beat Tigres, the new signings, Pony Ruiz and Kikin Fonseca looking superb and disappointing respectively.

Descenso bottom 7:-
1.2674 Atlante 109 from 86
1.2442 Tecos 107 from 86
1.2209 PUMAS 105 from 86
1.2093 Tigres 104 from 86
1.1731 San Luis 61 from 52
1.1047 Santos 95 from 86
1.0556 Queretaro 19 from 18

Next Up:-
Estadio Luis Pirata Funtes (named after a player who used to play drunk, I hear), Veracruz Saturday 27th January, 5pm, and we are going. Cracking little stadium by the sea, and we did them 3-1 at home last season, although we will have to get passed Jorge Bernal, who was outstanding this week.