Final
Video 1st legVideo 2nd leg
Santos were crowned champions of Mexico for Clausura 2008 after a narrow win over Cruz Azul. It is Santos's third title and fully deserved after finishing first before Christmas (and losing to Pumas in the semi-final) then coming in second behind Chivas in this tournamnent. If the league had been run in the conventional European style over a full year they would have ended up champions anyway.
The basis of their dominance has been the attacking trio of Argentinians Daniel Ludueña (pictured) and Matias Vuoso, along with Christián Benítez of Ecuador. They also have a very promising left back with pace in Edgar Castillo, experienced international goalkeeper Osvaldo Sánchez and the young midfielder Fernando Arce recently acquired from Morelia.
Cruz Azul were worthy rivals and dominated the opening stages of the first leg, with ex-Puma Jaime Lozano looking dangerous, and Torrado and Villaluz dominating the middle. But they only had a Vigneri header to show for it at the interval, and Santos emerged in the second half a better side. Benítez had a fine second half and set up Arce to rocket past Gutiérrez for the equaliser and then scored the winner himself after a scorching break.
This set up the Laguneros nicely for the home leg, and when Ludueña curled in from the edge of the box after only fifteen minutes, one felt it was a long way back for Cruz Azul, who despite ample possession showed little fluency. Torrado became an increaslingly frustrated figure in midfield, and despite Lozano touching in his swinging cross for the equaliser with ten minutes to go, he nevertheless ended up being given his marching orders by Armando Archundia. The final few minutes were fairly tense but there was little doubt that Santos would come through as deserved champions.
Copa Libertadores
Atlas failed to capitalise on their draw in Buenos Aires against Boca Juniors and were thrashed 3-0 at home by an inspired dislay by the classy Riquelme. Irritating striker Martín Palermo grabbed a first-half hatrick for the "Xeneizes" and goalkeeper Bava was sent off for Atlas early in the second half.
América however made it through to the semi-finals after a nervous 1-0 defeat away at Santos. Again Guillermos Ochoa looked in fine form and on these displays América will struggle to hold on to him for much longer. They moved on to play LDUQ (Quito University - Liga Deportiva) in the semi-final and managed an unimpressive 1-1 draw in the Azteca. Enrique Esqueda got a late equaliser after Bolaños had put LDUQ ahead. Meanwhile Fluminense grabbed a 2-2 draw in Argentina against Boca Juniors in the other semi-final.
Mexican National Team
After a lot of rumours and "will-he, won't-he"s it is looking almost certain that ex-England and Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson will be appointed Mexico's national coach. Despite a number of players publicly coming out in direct opposition to his appointment (ostensibly because he does not know Mexican football), including ex-Puma Gonzalo Pineda and veteran Jared Borgetti, the feeling is that the team needs a "director técnico" with more technical know-how after the rather disappointing Hugo Sánchez reign.
Interestingly "Tuca" Ferretti also claimed that his appointment would push up managers' wages in Mexico which have rather stood still in recent years.
Next Up
Look out for Mexico playing Argentina this Wednesday and Peru on Sunday (both matches in the USA), while América face LDUQ in Quito on Tuesday.
The basis of their dominance has been the attacking trio of Argentinians Daniel Ludueña (pictured) and Matias Vuoso, along with Christián Benítez of Ecuador. They also have a very promising left back with pace in Edgar Castillo, experienced international goalkeeper Osvaldo Sánchez and the young midfielder Fernando Arce recently acquired from Morelia.
Cruz Azul were worthy rivals and dominated the opening stages of the first leg, with ex-Puma Jaime Lozano looking dangerous, and Torrado and Villaluz dominating the middle. But they only had a Vigneri header to show for it at the interval, and Santos emerged in the second half a better side. Benítez had a fine second half and set up Arce to rocket past Gutiérrez for the equaliser and then scored the winner himself after a scorching break.
This set up the Laguneros nicely for the home leg, and when Ludueña curled in from the edge of the box after only fifteen minutes, one felt it was a long way back for Cruz Azul, who despite ample possession showed little fluency. Torrado became an increaslingly frustrated figure in midfield, and despite Lozano touching in his swinging cross for the equaliser with ten minutes to go, he nevertheless ended up being given his marching orders by Armando Archundia. The final few minutes were fairly tense but there was little doubt that Santos would come through as deserved champions.
Copa Libertadores
Atlas failed to capitalise on their draw in Buenos Aires against Boca Juniors and were thrashed 3-0 at home by an inspired dislay by the classy Riquelme. Irritating striker Martín Palermo grabbed a first-half hatrick for the "Xeneizes" and goalkeeper Bava was sent off for Atlas early in the second half.
América however made it through to the semi-finals after a nervous 1-0 defeat away at Santos. Again Guillermos Ochoa looked in fine form and on these displays América will struggle to hold on to him for much longer. They moved on to play LDUQ (Quito University - Liga Deportiva) in the semi-final and managed an unimpressive 1-1 draw in the Azteca. Enrique Esqueda got a late equaliser after Bolaños had put LDUQ ahead. Meanwhile Fluminense grabbed a 2-2 draw in Argentina against Boca Juniors in the other semi-final.
Mexican National Team
After a lot of rumours and "will-he, won't-he"s it is looking almost certain that ex-England and Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson will be appointed Mexico's national coach. Despite a number of players publicly coming out in direct opposition to his appointment (ostensibly because he does not know Mexican football), including ex-Puma Gonzalo Pineda and veteran Jared Borgetti, the feeling is that the team needs a "director técnico" with more technical know-how after the rather disappointing Hugo Sánchez reign.
Interestingly "Tuca" Ferretti also claimed that his appointment would push up managers' wages in Mexico which have rather stood still in recent years.
Next Up
Look out for Mexico playing Argentina this Wednesday and Peru on Sunday (both matches in the USA), while América face LDUQ in Quito on Tuesday.
posted by John Kelly @ 2:31 pm
2 comments
2 Comments:
Worthy winners, maybe, but they bought it, which is never much fun.
Cruz Azul looked to me a team who were not quite sure how or why they had got to the final. Saw fans and players (Torrado, ffs) crying, tut tut that’s not needed. And as always there is no excuse for face painting.
I may be the only person alive interested in the CONCACAF Champions League, the draw is on 11th June, and Atlante and Santos go straight into group stage as winners of the two seasons, Pumas and Cruz Azul into the preliminary stage as runners-up.
Read/hear more here www.dtelsalvador.blogspot.com
The idea of a CONCACAF champions league is intriguing, but unfortunately it will be dominated by Mexican teams, teams from the MLS and Deportivo Saprissa.
Cruz Azul lack firepower up front. Not sure why Villaluz is playing up front for Mexico when he scores so few for them. If anything he is an attacking midfielder.
This sounds like a kind of Pumas problem with the team dominating but unable to find ways to score, and with a decent attacking midfielder (Scocco) who is being expected to be the second striker.
Atlante are a shadow of the team that won the championship and might struggle in this competition, but it might be worth making the trip to Cancún nevertheless to see some interesting teams from outside Mexico.
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