Under normal circumstances, Indios and Cruz Azul would have had problems drawing people to a game. As it stood, there were few people present for Saturday's game between Indios and Cruz Azul, and it's too bad more people weren't there to witness Indios' dramatic game-winning, season-saving, Primera A-avoiding striker by Javier Saavedra.
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Potros near crown
Atlante took a major step towards representing CONCACAF at the FIFA Club World Cup by handing Cruz Azul a 2-0 loss in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final on Wednesday in Estadio Azul.
The two road goals are a major advantage for Atlante, who will head home in a comfortable position ahead of what could be an historic achievement for Atlante.
Entering the tournament way back last summer, few expected much from Atlante. They were the forgotten Mexican club as Pumas, Santos and Cruz Azul were likely to duke it out for the championship. All four teams reached the knockout rounds but thus far Atlante have been the most successful, knocking out Santos in the semis and now close to doing the same to la Maquina.
Atlante vs. Manchester United? Could happen.
The two road goals are a major advantage for Atlante, who will head home in a comfortable position ahead of what could be an historic achievement for Atlante.
Entering the tournament way back last summer, few expected much from Atlante. They were the forgotten Mexican club as Pumas, Santos and Cruz Azul were likely to duke it out for the championship. All four teams reached the knockout rounds but thus far Atlante have been the most successful, knocking out Santos in the semis and now close to doing the same to la Maquina.
Atlante vs. Manchester United? Could happen.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Don't ya just hate it?
Don't you hate when a supposed quality addition to your team underperforms, leaves and then goes on to do well somewhere else?
DC United fans might feel a bit upset over a former player of theirs who fits this category. Marcelo Gallardo came in with high hopes a year ago but by the end of the 2008 season the club could not wait to get rid of him and his high salary.
Gallardo has regained his health and his form and punctuated that with a goal in the toughest scenario, down a goal at La Bombonera against Boca Juniors. Gallardo's equalizer helped River Plate earn a 1-1 draw with their hated rivals.
Here's something we didn't see enough of in 2008:
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Clasico de Clasicos
Chivas looked like a mess coming into Sunday's game against America. They fired their manager after 17 days on the job (and no losses in three games) and the turmoil may have taken away from their focus.
Then, when new manager Francisco "Paco" Ramirez did not start Javier "Chicharo" Hernandez, one of the club's hottest scorers, it looked difficult. Salvador Cabañas' absence though helped as Chivas were able to pull out a 1-0 win over America on Sunday.
Chivas have a crucial match at Pumas next week; a victory there would all but send the club through to the Liguilla. Regardless, they dealt America a tough setback as America now return home, a place where they haven't won this season, with a load of pressure.
Then, when new manager Francisco "Paco" Ramirez did not start Javier "Chicharo" Hernandez, one of the club's hottest scorers, it looked difficult. Salvador Cabañas' absence though helped as Chivas were able to pull out a 1-0 win over America on Sunday.
Chivas have a crucial match at Pumas next week; a victory there would all but send the club through to the Liguilla. Regardless, they dealt America a tough setback as America now return home, a place where they haven't won this season, with a load of pressure.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Classic brawl
It really was too bad that Omar Arellano was fired. We had a little story set to go on Goal.com about Arellano, his thoughts on the Clasico with America and his involvement in the huge brawl in the mid-80s between the teams.
This is quite an impressive brawl. I'll still share it with you here, but too bad there won't be a manager on Sunday that played a direct role in it.
This is quite an impressive brawl. I'll still share it with you here, but too bad there won't be a manager on Sunday that played a direct role in it.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Porous defending
Indios are one of the worst teams in Mexico. They are on the brink of going back to the Primera A as they have a tough road ahead of them in the final four games of the Clausura 2009 season.
But America's crappy defense sure made them look good on Sunday. If America play like this next week against Chivas, the Clasico Nacional won't be much of a contest.
It's actually a bad thing for Chivas that the game is not in Estadio Azteca. America have yet to win there this season.
But America's crappy defense sure made them look good on Sunday. If America play like this next week against Chivas, the Clasico Nacional won't be much of a contest.
It's actually a bad thing for Chivas that the game is not in Estadio Azteca. America have yet to win there this season.
Clasico aftermath
Saturday's Chivas USA-Galaxy match was a unique game, as all these matchups tend to be. But for some reason it didn't have the emotion, the drama that other matches have featured.
Maybe it's because some of the polarizing figures were absent, save for Landon Donovan of course. No Ante Razov. No Maykel Galindo. No Panchito Mendoza. And we're all still getting used to these new-look Galaxy players as Gregg Berhalter made his MLS debut and was one of six Galaxy players who had never played against Chivas USA before (stat check, Klein, Donovan, Gordon, Franklin have, believe Tudela has but have to go double check, in any case, about half the starting lineup).
Chivas never really looked dangerous after the first opening part of the game and then they went down a man, and the Galaxy never looked dangerous when they had a man advantage for a big chunk of the second half. And then, Chivas didn't look dangerous over the last 10 minutes.
The previous 0-0 draw in the series was a very good game, a game that produced a lot of drama and emotion. This one, meh.
One thing that would make this series even better, though, would be if the teams played only two times each season. Play once in late May/early June and another time in late September/early October. That would be better than three times a season, which is better than four times a season, but still not optimal. But that'll never happen. MLS will find ways to maximize this series rivalry and we'll get a minimum of three Clasicos a year.
I just hope that the next ones feature more drama and intensity (and maybe a few less cards) than Saturday's.
Maybe it's because some of the polarizing figures were absent, save for Landon Donovan of course. No Ante Razov. No Maykel Galindo. No Panchito Mendoza. And we're all still getting used to these new-look Galaxy players as Gregg Berhalter made his MLS debut and was one of six Galaxy players who had never played against Chivas USA before (stat check, Klein, Donovan, Gordon, Franklin have, believe Tudela has but have to go double check, in any case, about half the starting lineup).
Chivas never really looked dangerous after the first opening part of the game and then they went down a man, and the Galaxy never looked dangerous when they had a man advantage for a big chunk of the second half. And then, Chivas didn't look dangerous over the last 10 minutes.
The previous 0-0 draw in the series was a very good game, a game that produced a lot of drama and emotion. This one, meh.
One thing that would make this series even better, though, would be if the teams played only two times each season. Play once in late May/early June and another time in late September/early October. That would be better than three times a season, which is better than four times a season, but still not optimal. But that'll never happen. MLS will find ways to maximize this series rivalry and we'll get a minimum of three Clasicos a year.
I just hope that the next ones feature more drama and intensity (and maybe a few less cards) than Saturday's.
Golazo de alacran
This is goal of the year material in the Clausura 2009 season. I know I've been critical of Luis Angel Landin but this is a great goal. Not sure if he meant to do that but I'm sure he'll take it.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Atlante prevail
Atlante beat Santos 3-1 on Wednesday and joined Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League final.
The match was fairly exciting and intense but seemed to unravel at the end. The match was decided by Rafael Marquez Lugo, who converted a penalty in stoppage time to give Atlante the series-clinching goal. Three red cards ensued as a brawl broke out deep in stoppage time.
Now, I don't know if the call was a penalty or not. The referee called a penalty on Alejandro Figueroa for knocking down Gabriel Pereyra inside the box, and Marquez Lugo converted the spot kick.
I suppose one way around the officiating issue would be to allow for domestic officials in these country-versus-country matches. A Mexican referee would be used to the contact, fouls and dives that exist in the league, and at the very least there would be a lot more familiarity with the teams and the style of play because of that. It;s one thing for a, say Canadian ref to officiate a match between a Mexican and Costa Rican club, but when it's Mexico-vs-Mexico, just seems natural that a Mexican ref would best know how to call the game.
Anyway, here are the highlights.
The match was fairly exciting and intense but seemed to unravel at the end. The match was decided by Rafael Marquez Lugo, who converted a penalty in stoppage time to give Atlante the series-clinching goal. Three red cards ensued as a brawl broke out deep in stoppage time.
Now, I don't know if the call was a penalty or not. The referee called a penalty on Alejandro Figueroa for knocking down Gabriel Pereyra inside the box, and Marquez Lugo converted the spot kick.
I suppose one way around the officiating issue would be to allow for domestic officials in these country-versus-country matches. A Mexican referee would be used to the contact, fouls and dives that exist in the league, and at the very least there would be a lot more familiarity with the teams and the style of play because of that. It;s one thing for a, say Canadian ref to officiate a match between a Mexican and Costa Rican club, but when it's Mexico-vs-Mexico, just seems natural that a Mexican ref would best know how to call the game.
Anyway, here are the highlights.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday highlights
Not a lot of time this morning to blog, though I'll be out at HDC tonight for Crew-Chivas.
Here are some highlights you may have missed or want to re-live to get you going this Sunday.
Here are some highlights you may have missed or want to re-live to get you going this Sunday.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Mexico-Honduras highlights
The camera angle is the exact opposite from what we saw on Telemundo, but here are the goals from Wednesday's Honduras' 3-1 win over Mexico.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Bolivia wins in a rout
Not sure what the commentator is saying but it's probably something like this:
"Maradona is a failure! How can he lose this badly to Bolivia and keep his job?? He will get ran out of his job after losing 6-1!"
"Maradona is a failure! How can he lose this badly to Bolivia and keep his job?? He will get ran out of his job after losing 6-1!"
The abyss
Mexico's loss to Costa Rica in 2001 was bad, downright terrible for the Mexicans.
But what does rock bottom look like?
But what does rock bottom look like?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Come from behind draw
The US looked terrible midway through the second half of Saturday's match with El Salvador, trailing surprisingly by 2-0. But then the States pulled off a pair of goals and finished 2-2 and a late opportunity nearly gave the Americans a win.
In the end, though, it was one well-earned point.
In the end, though, it was one well-earned point.
Mexico wins
The way the game worked out, Costa Rica never really had a shot as Mexico won 2-0.
Here are the highlights with some commentary from the Futbol Picante guys.
Here are the highlights with some commentary from the Futbol Picante guys.
Friday, March 27, 2009
A stab or three at a Tri lineup
Well, first here's the preview I wrote for Goal.com and I included my guess at a lineup (not necessarily who I think should start) and here's one of my writers and his stab at a lineup (who he thinks should start.
And here's Futbol Picante. None of us have the same lineup at all.
And here's Futbol Picante. None of us have the same lineup at all.
Media talk
The fallout from the Nery Castillo tirade seems to have been overwhelmingly in favor of Castillo among the supporters. It seems the Mexican media is very low in the minds of many.
Now, I don't know what journalism is like in Mexico and what standards it follows. It's a different game there, so to speak. But the thing that bothers me is this idea that the media should support the national team and should be positive with the national team.
It's not the media's job to support. That's PR, public relations. The media's job is to report on what happened, report the major storylines, the minor storylines and everything in between, to cover a game or event or whatever from as many angles as possible so the reader or viewer or listener or whatever can get the full story.
The media's job is not to support or trash, it is not to give atta-boys or pats on the back, pick-me-up columns or fluff pieces. That's PR, marketing, whatever. Not media. Sure, you cover and deal with players you like on a personal level and other you don't care for on a personal level. But you have to be true to the job and the profession and remain objective. Media members aren't cheerleaders, and it seems that's a major complaint about the Mexican media, that they aren't supporting the national team.
The team has played like shit. What do you want the media to do? You want Mural to run a cover that says "Don't Worry Tri, Next Time You'll Win" if they lose on Saturday? Should that have been the headline following the US-Mexico game?
Now, there is an element of tabloid and sensationalism that goes on there and that part I can't speak about. I despise tabloids in general and if those are the basis of the complaints, I guess I can't really blame them.
Anyway, here's the Futbol Picante crew talking about the Nery situation.
Now, I don't know what journalism is like in Mexico and what standards it follows. It's a different game there, so to speak. But the thing that bothers me is this idea that the media should support the national team and should be positive with the national team.
It's not the media's job to support. That's PR, public relations. The media's job is to report on what happened, report the major storylines, the minor storylines and everything in between, to cover a game or event or whatever from as many angles as possible so the reader or viewer or listener or whatever can get the full story.
The media's job is not to support or trash, it is not to give atta-boys or pats on the back, pick-me-up columns or fluff pieces. That's PR, marketing, whatever. Not media. Sure, you cover and deal with players you like on a personal level and other you don't care for on a personal level. But you have to be true to the job and the profession and remain objective. Media members aren't cheerleaders, and it seems that's a major complaint about the Mexican media, that they aren't supporting the national team.
The team has played like shit. What do you want the media to do? You want Mural to run a cover that says "Don't Worry Tri, Next Time You'll Win" if they lose on Saturday? Should that have been the headline following the US-Mexico game?
Now, there is an element of tabloid and sensationalism that goes on there and that part I can't speak about. I despise tabloids in general and if those are the basis of the complaints, I guess I can't really blame them.
Anyway, here's the Futbol Picante crew talking about the Nery situation.
El Aztecazo
How did anyone ever beat Mexico in Azteca?
Well, here's how Costa Rica did it. Not sure if this will be shown to the players before the game, but it's probably pretty motivating if you're Costa Rican.
Well, here's how Costa Rica did it. Not sure if this will be shown to the players before the game, but it's probably pretty motivating if you're Costa Rican.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Nery's meltdown
Might the pressure be getting to the Mexican national team players?
It appeared Nery Castillo was feeling something - pressure, anger, frustration... something - during Wednesday's press conference.
He chastised the media, said they had no business criticizing players because they never played, among other things.
It appeared Nery Castillo was feeling something - pressure, anger, frustration... something - during Wednesday's press conference.
He chastised the media, said they had no business criticizing players because they never played, among other things.
Another Aztecazo?
Costa Rica beat Mexico in Azteca in 2001 in World Cup qualifying.
Can it happen again?
The guys from Futbol Picante say no, but are quick to agree that they really don't have a good reason why they don't think Costa Rica will win.
Towards the end, one of the commentators says something to the effect: If you ask me if Mexico will lose this game, I will tell you no. But if you ask me why, I will have problems giving you even one solid reason why I think that. Perhaps I'm thinking more with my heart than with my brain.
Can it happen again?
The guys from Futbol Picante say no, but are quick to agree that they really don't have a good reason why they don't think Costa Rica will win.
Towards the end, one of the commentators says something to the effect: If you ask me if Mexico will lose this game, I will tell you no. But if you ask me why, I will have problems giving you even one solid reason why I think that. Perhaps I'm thinking more with my heart than with my brain.
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