Game 6: Pachuca away

Pachuca v Pumas
Estadio Hidalgo
17th February 2007

Video Highlights
All goals, Pumas at 1m 17s

A good away point against a fine team, in an interesting game, in very cold conditions. We came away with lots of positives, and probably a cold to boot.

An unusual ground, set within excavated rocks to underline the mining history in this town, and a very cold one. Sitting in the very hot sun in the square, we took a 20 minute cab ride to the ground, to be astounded by the cold. At kick off the thermometer showed 2oC. With the wind, it was genuinely cold.

However a few things made us forget the cold, firstly, beers served in litres for only 40 pesos, and secondly the lads warmed up near us. I shouted to Pikolin a few times, and eventually he looked up to wave, and saw us waving back. By now I was very happy, and even the fact that you could not buy Cornish pasties inside the ground could not bring me down.

To top it all, Pumas started brightly. Chispa Velarde restored at left back, and Paco and Chupa starting up front we looked much more our old selves. Very solid at the back, Leandro and Sancho finally performing in the centre, Pareja looking lively, and our passing better than for ages. As John put it, “crisp and accurate”. This is, however, a good team, and at home, and Bernal had to pull off two top draw saves to keep us in it. Chupa found himself deep in the box early on, but tried to do too much himself, and wouldn’t pass to the free Palencia, so it came to nothing.

Second half we weren’t quite as assured, but still held on comfortably, Pachuca have made a bit of a habit of scoring late on these days, and they had a good chance in injury time, which happily went well wide. I felt a challenge on Velarde in the box merited a penalty, but I received two texts within seconds of the incident. Tricky and John watching on the telly, Trick said “not a pen”, and John said “stone-cold penalty”. Overall the ref had a good game, got a couple of things wrong, but his carding was spot on.

The Pumas subs were warming up just by us, and I managed to get a half-hearted wave out of Scocco, although he didn’t see me. About ten minutes after I felt the Chupa-for-Scocco switch was needed it happened. Scocco had one decent run into the box, but that was about it. Finished nil all, but remember they made us look rubbish at CU last term, so I am happy with the result – and overall much happier with the performance.

Ratings:-
Bernal – 8 – assured throughout plus two outstanding saves.

Velarde – 7 – much more himself
Veron – 8 – super assured
Pikolin – 8 – extra point for waving at me – honestly Ken, he is massive
Castro – 8 – just so unruffled, so understated and so reliable

Chiapas – 7 – slightly better again
Sancho – 8 – MOM – this is how he should be playing, running it, stamping himself on the game
Leandro – 8 – started a bit off, but soon got back to himself, much better passing overall
Parejita – 8 – always in it, as per usual

Palencia – 6 – have to say a little anonymous today - or maybe it was the three litres of beer I drank...
Chupa – 7 – decent enough game, could have done better on many occasions (subbed off 76 mins)

Subs:-
Scocco – 7 – one decent run, but up for it

DT:-
Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti – 8 – somehow has got his boys to play as he wants at last, but still big big worries up front, seem to lack ideas completely. Only one sub, but only one was needed, I felt it was a little late, but there you are. Also wise enough to realise that the game was getting away from us as the second half went on, and didn’t go too attacking.

Pasties:-
Meat and Potato – 10 – the classic done to perfection, very good pastry, spud-to-meat ratio perfect and just enough chile to remind you that you are still in Mexico
Sausage and Cheese – 9 – also superb, felt they were trying to do too much however, with the mustard, ketchup, cheese, chile etc
Rice Pudding - 1 - the product of a deranged mind
Chicken – 8 – was advised by the Frenchman that these were top notch, but not strictly authentic for my tastes

Cards:-
Chupa - 9 mins – if I remember rightly this was the foul which I thought was fine, Richard thought wasn’t a foul, and John thought could have been a straight red. Go know.
Mosquerra – 77 mins
Lopez, L – 83 mins

Crowd:-
25,000 – and in good voice on both sides, probably trying to keep warm

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
Certainly turning into a draw festival, this season, another five draws this time. Toluca getting their 6th in six games, 2 all against America. Queretaro forced a nil all at Cruz Azul, which means they have scored none, and conceded only 2 in six games. Monterrey must have thought they’d won, at two nil up, including a goal bouncing from the underside of the bar, which did not actually enter the goal. However, Necaxa scored two in the last six minutes to get a draw. On Sunday Santos got another penalty. And drew one each with Tecos. Veracruz’s new manager, Carlos Barra, got off to a winning start beating San Luis 2-1, a different Victorino (Maurcio) scoring one of the goals. Jaguares beat Morelia, which must be seen as an upset at the moment, Atlas back to form, beating Tigres 2-0. The other winners were Chivas, brushing aside Atlante 3-0 in the Azteca. And guess who played, and missed exactly no games for Chivas? Yep, Bofo…..

Pumas Morelos:-
Unfortunately all the cunning tricks and traps we set for the Road Runners backfired on us, and we lost. Pumas Morelos 0 Correcaminos 2.

Group:-
We stay third in the group, after six:-
1st America 10pts +6gd
2nd Monarcas 10pts +5
3rd Pumas 9pts +2
4th Tigres 8pts -1
5th Toluca 6pt 0
6th Santos 2pts -4

Next Up:-
Big game at CU, Sunday midday, we are entertaining Cruz Azul. They have not quite been themselves lately, and we did them at their place last term, but our defence is going to have to be on top form, and our attack needs to do much more.