Game 17: Tigres away
Tigres v PumasUniversitario
28th April 2007
Video Highlights
A deeply unsurprising, if disappointing, end to the season. Another draw, and this time I would say we were probably fortunate to get that. Once again Leandro and Sancho failed to put a stamp on this game and run it from midfield. I think overall we now have to see this midfield pairing as a failure.
Sancho particularly disappointed me in this game. His highest profile error was his “shot” following great work from Palencia in the left hand side of the box, the ball came out towards Sancho, rushing in towards the 6 yard box, where he hit it with his left peg, the far side of the goal gaping. It went for a throw in. So a limp and frustrating first half, once again.
To be fair, Tigres played pretty well throughout, although Kikin was pretty much kept in a box. We maybe should have been down at half time, I felt 1-0 to them would have been slightly fairer than the nil all we had.
We didn’t really come out looking much more positive, but once again the talismanic figure of Parejita got us out of trouble, whipping in the sort of cross you know is a goal when it leaves his foot. He is truly capable of this, remember the one v Veracruz, but maybe only three or four times a season, not the one every three or four crosses of a Beckham. No matter, Ailton met it well, and headed down comfortably into the net.
Any shred of purpose we had left us at one nil up. I would say we struggle if we concede first, and we struggle if we score first. Not ideal. Tigres were pushing and pushing, and on 65 minutes they got the goal they deserved. It was a break away, but our defenders got back and were positioned well, to no avail, A nice cross from Saavedra was met by a beauty of a diving header, as Garcia easily beat Pikolin to it.
One all a fair reflection, and sees Tigres into the liguilla, and leaves us out. Given that we needed to win this game, it was astounding how our players did not really respond.
Ratings:-
Bernal – 8 – solid game
Castro – 7 – overall good (subbed 83 mins)
Veron – 8 – good as usual
Pikolin – 7 – did well, but am concerned about how he is marking his man on the low whipped cross, he wins most high ones easily, but often gets beaten to the low ones
Velarde – 6 – started very poorly, but grew. Got skinned many times
Ailton – 7 – good goal, but still very rusty (subbed 73 mins)
Sancho – 5 – poor all round
Leandro – 6 – disappointing
Pareja – 8 – MOM – another most important player award for him, just so much more garra than the rest, and a beauty for the goal
Scocco – 5 – sadly all too absent (subbed 66 mins)
Palencia – 6 – about – but not about enough
Subs.-
Chupa – 5 – 66 mins – all mouth and no trousers
Íñiguez – 5 – 73 mins – why oh why?
Gonzalez – 6 – 83 mins – he’s got balls
DT
Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti – 7 – OK, but again his game plan didn’t work, and he didn’t seem to know what to do about it.
Goals:-
0 – 1 – 47 mins – A lovely cross from Pareja met strongly with good attacking header by Jose Ailton Da Silva down into bottom corner
1 – 1 – 65 mins – a nice break, a good whipped cross was met at full length by Juan Pablo Garcia, whose perfect glancing header went passed Bernal.
Crowd:-
45,000
Elswhere In Mexico:-
New CONCACAF Champions Pachuca underlined their super-leader status by destroying Atlante 4-1 in the Azteca. Some of the big boys had their minds elsewhere, as Cruz Azul, Chivas and America all lost, Chivas 1-0 at Jaguares, and America in Morelia. Toluca won to finish off Monterrey’s sorry season, whilst the worst teams of the year drew, Veracruz 1, Necaxa 1. Tecos got a good away 2-0 win at San Luis
Qualification and Relegation
The “repesca” is:-
Santos v San Luis
Morelia v Atlas
The first a bit close to call, but I would expect to see Atlas through from the other.
Qualified as group leaders are:-
Chivas
Cruz Azul
Pachuca
Tecos
America
Tigres
I think it will be between Chivas and Pachuca.
As for the relegation, it was in their hands, but in emotional scenes at the Jalisco they were overcome 2-0 by Atlas. The Queretaro players and manager have fought every game very strongly and bravely, against all the odds, including some hilariously questionable refereeing all season. At the end they all, along with the 25,000 odd fans they took with them, looked inconsolable. The Atlas manager, Ruben Omar Romano was seen to be sympathising and encouraging the Queretaro manager Salvador Reyes (son of Chivas legend “Chava” Reyes) in an emotional and generous gesture.
Next year we start pretty safe in the descenso, 9th overall, with 87 from 68, the worst team Santos having 71 from 68
Pumas Morelos
A good 1-0 (Gaston Caprari’s 5th goal of season) away win as Santos Laguna sees us into the play-offs, against highly fancied Puebla. We are home on Thursday 3rd May, and away the following Sunday.
Libertadores Loans:-
Tolulca have borrowed both Paco Palencia and Ignacio Scocco of us for the rest of the Libertadores competition.
Next Up:-
Well, there isn’t one. Shame.
posted by DT @ 2:35 pm
8 comments
8 Comments:
Hi DT. You seem a but despondent. Not surprising but that is football, and I think we will be in a better position to start next season.
You are all too right about Sancho and Leandro. We need to look hard at the midfield for next year.
I think you may have been a bit harsh on Pikolin for the goal. He was in position but Veron was down injured (some commentators and definitely Ailton thought it was a foul and therefore the goal should not have stood) and so there was more space for Pikolin to cover. The guy came from behind him as he was covering both his and Veron's space. Good finish though.
Now it is cold turkey until mid-August heaven help us!
Thats all true, Tricky, but I did not mean to blame Pikolin for this goal particularly, I wanted to share my concerns I have noticed he is less comfortable with that type of cross, and I think it might be something our opponents have also picked up, and have used this season.
Also wanted to point out that Omar Bravo was top goalscorer this time, the first Mexican to win that since Jared Borgetti in 2001, and the first Chivas player in about 45 years or something, when "El Chava" Reyes won it - thats right, father of the Queretaro manager.
vu,fgh, fghkcgy,xcgc,,
Whoops ! That was me above. blackcomyn. I cannot seem to sign in because MI5 and the CIA are tracking me. Bastards !
Anyway, let's not forget that the objective for this term was to avoid the dreaded drop. Mission accomplished.
What do you good people think of the Mexican play off system ? Do you prefer the European style Man U/Chelski type of run in ? Or the Yankee post season gorge fest ?
As a reply to BlackComyn, given the nature of Mexican football where the "superlider" is different every season I do not have anything against the play-off system. If anything the Premiership run-in is quite dull with nothing to play for for the below average teams (like Newcastle).
What I don't like is that the rules change every year for qualification, and I have yet to see a reason for the groups. I would be just as happy seeing the top eight go through to the play-offs direct (or the top six with the next four in repechaje).
By the way, although Berwick were promoted as champions from Scottish Three I don't particularly like the one up one down system there with a play off between second bottom of the higher division and second third and fourth in the lower one. Equally I am not a big fan of the rules for descenso in Mexico which to me seem to favour the big clubs.
What does everyone think about the relegation issue? Should it just take results from one year like almost everywhere else?
A few things here. The half seasons and play-offs are something you get used to surprisingly quickly, but I am a purist, although you cannot deny they cause excitement late on, 2 examples:-
1) The last round of games this season, and only Veracruz could not make at all to the "big party", although about 4 or 5 other clubs were unlikely to make it.
2) end of 2005/2006 season, San Luis are in injury time drawing one all with Atlas, and being relegated, as Dorados are drawing nil all with us. Deep into injury time substitute Marcelo Guerrero scores to win the game 2-1. This not only saves them from relegation, but gets them into the play-offs. They reach the final, and lose to Pachuca only 1-0 over the two legs - now a dramatic turn-about in fortunes like that can only happen here, and only because of the liguilla and relegation rules. Now, is that a good thing?
Relegation I wonder about. The problem is that the "Primera A" is not like a real strong league, and is like a Mexican prison:- easy to get into, almost impossible to get out of. So a "big boy" having a bad year and going down really could be disastrous. Although, it could help raise the Primera A a bit.
So all in all I am very confused as to whether its a good thing or a bad thing. But my purist instincts tell me one full season, most points win, and the relegation over one season only. OK, the run-in may not be exciting, but football isn't supposed to be exciting, is it?
Paco played one half, and Scocco 22 mins in Toulca's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Deportivo Cúcuta from Columbia. Neither scored.
Any chance of a season review DT? And end of season awards? It may not seem like there is anything to celebrate but when you're a fan...
Don't worry mate, its in hand. It's just fermenting in the old noggin, but you'll get the season review - and how! Names will, indeed, be named.....
Post a Comment
<< Home