Several options were given such as playing behind closed doors, but those were refused.

Chivas was also offered two fields, one in Brazil by Coritiba, and the other by Sociedad Deportiva Aucas in Ecuador. However, owner Jorge Vergara refused because he wanted Chivas to be at the Jalisco.

Yesterday, CONMEBOL approved the games to be played in Mexico, but both Sao Paulo and Nacional have refused to travel to Mexico, and the Mexican teams have dropped out.

“Even though the World Health Organization has given their approval playing with a filled stadium, we find that the teams of Nacional of Montevideo, and Sao Paulo of Brazil have no such approval. We personally made calls to their boards, and federations as well as the Presidents of the clubs to guarantee their arrivals, to make it easier for them; security at the airport and hotels. Unfortunately, both clubs in question don’t want to come to Mexico. By these means we wish to let the CONMEBOL know that we are removing ourselves from the competition,” said FMF president Justin Compean.

For once, FMF is supporting the clubs in their decision.

This comes after the news that the 17th and final round of the Mexican tournament will be open to the public, but with stadiums only half full.

“As a sign of sympathy towards Chivas and San Luis, who will not be able to take advantage of their home fields due to the outbreak of the H1N1 Flu that has been strongly affected Mexico, the Sociedad Deportiva Aucas has put their stadium at the use of both teams.”

The club from Ecuador has sent their proposal to CONMEBOL who is set to release their verdict of the situation this evening.

Also, while we’ll get Johnny Magallon back from injury, we’re also losing Reynoso.

Lucky week for him, isn’t it? He’s been handed a suspension and now he’s injured. He had a tear in his left thigh and is slotted to be out 12 days. No matter what his punishment turns out to be, he’d be out now anyways. The injury will also keep him out for the game against Indios where we’ll look to qualify to the Liguilla.

Reynoso hopes for justice and says that he never spit on the player, although he did commit some other actions in retaliation to being taunted the entire game.

“I never spit. I pretended to cough because he put himself in front of me,” said Reynoso.

I know that I made a mistake, but I was hot headed and it won’t happen again. It’ll help teach me to learn as a person, and as a professional player. I have many aspirations and that won’t change. You’re asking if I’ve slept well? I’ve slept perfectly because I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t hurt anyone.

I think that as a human being I made a mistake, and firstly I talked to the player who I directed it at. In his case, and the club’s, I offered apologies, and he accepted them. I think that because of that we’re good. Next I think that that’s football. There’s a bit of heat, and if I get punished for that you’d have to punish all defenders, especially in South America where it’s always played with that spirit, but there’s no greater problems. All of us on that pitch know how to take it. Unfortunately that image was taken and the situation that we’re living in right now has me in this problem right now.

Although I’ve never been a fan of Reynoso, I applaud him for his attitude. He’s taking all of this in a professional way. Personally, I would of done the same thing during the game no matter how immature. Just watching though, and reading what had happened during the week to players made me angry…and that’s as a fan and not one of the players who actually lived through the jeers in Chile.

And some good news…

Chivas has been ranked #55 best in the world by IFFHS. That places the team in the highest position for any Mexican team. While the rankings remind me of the FIFA country ratings, it’s nice to know that they’re high up. Toluca and Pachuca are placed in #206 and 224 even though they’re the best teams in La Liga right now while last place Cruz Azul is in the #69 post.

“The Coritiba Foot Ball Club has received today, with respect to the news, that the Conmebol has prohibited our brother club Deportivo Guadalajara ‘Chivas,’ from playing in the Jalisco Stadium during the second phase of the Copa Libertadores 2009.

For that reason we would like to transform our stadium, Estadio Couto Pereira to Chivas’ home during this prohibition. We’re sure that Chivas will have all the support from our fans, the press, and all institutions related to Coritiba even if the rival of Chivas is a Brazilian club because after being “coxas-brancas” we’re “Rebaños.”

Relations between the clubs have been positive as the “Coxas” have always been invited to participate in the Copa Chivas U-18 tournaments.

This club is the first to have offered to host us. Hats off to them. In addition, the Chivas website has posted several emails they have received from fans of the “Coxas” pledging their support and asking the team to come.

Hello: I would like to say that’s my spanish is too poor and that’s why I’m writting in english. Here in Brazil, we are very concerned about what is happening with the mexicans, a people who we love, and their health. I know that Coritiba staff have offered the Major Antonio Couto Pereira stadium for your next game in the Libertadores. The Coritiba fans will support Chivas here against Sao Paulo and we could help you to win this game. My best regards and my wish that Mexico get free from this influenza virus as soon as possible.
-Alexandre Sewald.

It’s unclear whether they have extended their service to San Luis as well, but I’m guessing that they’d be up to host the other Mexican team as well. I say we take it. In a time of crisis it’s good to see that there are still people out there who are willing to help and not just stereotype groups as if they were lepers.

After not being able to guarantee a definitive solution that would be in the best interests of the clubs, associations and CONMEBOL, the games have consequently been postponed one week

Another option in case no country wants to play host to the teams is to have them face each other in the round of 16.

“We’re going to keep looking and if we can’t get(another country) they’ll have to play off between themselves. It can be an alternative that would completely vary the calender of the Copa,” said Francisco Figueredo Brítez the Executive Director of CONMEBOL.

Meanwhile, Pineda is calling the FMF to step up for the rights of the Mexican clubs.

“It’s regrettable how the CONMEBOL acts. We’re used to it because we’re a guest country. However, we’re a guest that leaves a lot of money. I think that we should also be more picky and put our own conitions as well,” said Pineda.

“If we acted that sensitive…There are more illnesses in South America than in Mexico, so we have to become more stringent in that sense and put forth our own conditions because we’re a guest, but a guest that leaves them with a lot of money an it’s time that we ask for more favorable conditions for the country(Mexico).”

I have to completely agree with Pineda. Everywhere in the world there are so many possibilities of getting a disease, yet CONMEBOL is treating the Mexican teams like lepers. They’re not going to bring the diseases just because they’re Mexican. In case officials haven’t thought about it, clubs aren’t going to risk their players. It’s not in their best interest and they’d be idiots to do so. If one of their players died they’d lose money, and if were of the H1N1 flu then they’d probably cause an eruption at the club among the other players.

As much as I hate it, I think that the Mexican teams will have to leave this tournament, at least this edition. If they have the round of 16 played off between them, the quarter finals will present the same problem. To me, it seems like teams are using the situation to get rid of some rivals. But seriously, Pineda is right. The guest teams leave the tournament money. How many more people are interested in watching the Libertadores just because a team like Chivas is there? I’d be willing to be that a lot more do.

And Hector Reynoso has also apologized to Penco of Everton for the incident midweek. \ The club twisted his arm and made him apologized. Psh, personally I would have licked the player’s cheek. Or hugged him. Or slobbered on him. Just to give him more of a scare. But I guess I’m just more immature that way.

News Update: Chivas’ opponent will be Brazilian side Sao Paulo. If they were to get past Sao Paulo, Chivas would then play the winner of Cruziero/U. de Chile. Meanwhile Chivas has to find a new place to play because the Colombian government has refused to let them play there. Costa Rica has also denied their place, and a possible alternative looks like Chile.

San Luis, the other Mexican representative, will also play on the same date at the “Campin’ stadium in Bogota. The precaution is only for the current phase, and as of now hopefully will not be in effect in further rounds.

Jorge Vergara, owner of Chivas, also owns the Costa Rican side, Saprissa, and was looking to move the game to that venue, but the Colombian Federation of Football and the Mexican Federation of Football came to the agreement.

Despite the change, Chicaro thinks that Chivas will be ok.

“Mainly we’re happy about getting to the round of 16. Now, with this decision we’re happy because there’s a lot of people over there in Colombia. There’s a lot of Mexican people over in Colombia, and the Colombian people like the Mexican people very much. We hope to make that part of home advantage.”

Everton
1 Gustavo Dalsasso
23 Fernando Saavedra
3 Cristian Oviedo
15 Adrián Rojas
13 Leandro Delgado YC43′)
5 Nicolás Freitas (Oscar Cornejo 56′)
11 Cristian Uribe
18 Ezequiel Miralles (YC 63′) (RC 87′)
22 Roberto Gutiérrez (Sebastián Penco 76′)
10 Jaime Riveros
14 Roberto Floris (José L. Muñoz 76′)
DT Nelson Acosta

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
17 Amaury Ponce
3 Aarón Galindo (YC 47′)
4 Héctor Reynoso (YC 60′)
20 Édgar Mejía
7 Gonzalo Pineda (RC 87′)
5 Patricio Araujo
8 Marco Fabián (Jesús Padilla 62′)
16 Édgar Solís
10 Alberto Medina
14 Javier Hernández (Jared Borgetti 76′)
DT Francisco Ramírez

Chicharo started the game off quickly. He scored the goal in the 6th minute when he broke away and came up against the goalkeeper one on one. He chipped the ball over the ‘keeper and scored. This kid is pure class, that’s for sure. It’s great that all his goals in the Copa Libertadores have come against Everton…

Everton came back quickly and in the 17th minute they had an effort on goal that forced a save out of Michel. Michel had a really good performance tonight as well.

Chivas were the team that dominated in the first half, but again Everton came close to scoring in added time forcing Michel into a double save.

Coming back for the second half, Everton quickly got down to business. In the 48th they took advantage of a free kick given away by Aaron Galindo right outside the area. Rivero’s took the free kick and caught Michel off his line. Michel couldn’t get to it and just watched as the ball went by to make it 1-1.

In the 69th minute Medina came close when he broke away. His ball went a little long and he was unable to fully control it, and he let go a weak shot into the ‘keeper’s hands.

Everton once again looked dangerous and towards the end of the game in the 86th minute Muñoz hit the cross bar as Chivas lost the ball in their own half.

Pineda and Miralles were sent off in the 88th for some pushing in shoving. It started when Penco tried to head the ball out of Michel’s hands while he was holding it past the line. The players didn’t like it and started to give each other love taps. So now, Chivas will be without Pineda for the next game of the Copa Libertadores.

Overall I found the play of the team very good. The ref was really soft at first and let alot of fouls go. They all dealt very well with all the craziness surrounding them in Chile, just because they came from Mexico. Some players were treated as if they had leprosy. I’m ok with the draw because it got us through, but oh how I wish we’d torn them apart at home just for that. Sorry, I guess it might be some motherly instincts towards the players, or something of that nature. Anyways, if they had the swine flu they wouldn’t have played…DUH!
What put a smile on my face was Reynoso pretending to blow his nose and start to cough on an Everton player. A little childish, yes, but I think I would have done the same.

The next game will be on Saturday May 2nd against Puebla. Because of the swine flu, the FMF has determined that all games will be played behind closed doors in protection of the public. And with so many places around the world being affected with it, you should take care too.

UNAM
125 Sergio Bernal
2 Efraín Velarde
3 Marco Antonio Palacios
4 Darío Verón
5 Israel Castro
7 Leandro Augusto
20 Ismael Iñiguez (Pablo Barrera 60′)
9 Dante López
10 Martín Bravo (Francisco Palencia 60′)
26 David Toledo (Juan Carlos Cacho 70′)
DT Ricardo Ferreti

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
17 Sergio Ponce
20 Égar Mejía
4 Héctor Reynoso
5 Patricio Araujo
6 Omar Esparza
18 Xavier Báez
7 Gonzalo Pineda
10 Alberto Medina (Marco Fabián 63′ )
14 Javier Hernández (Carlos Ochoa 63′)
11 Ramón Morales (Édgar Solís 71′)
DT Francisco Ramírez

Sorry for the crappy game report this week, but the game wasn’t very exciting. And not just because the fans were missing.

Chivas got the goal in the 21st minute. Ponce provided a nice cross to Chicharo who came in with a diving header to put Chivas up 1-0 in front of an empty stadium.

In the 72nd Pumas equalized, but their bad goal was voided. Dante Lopez had take the ball outside the pitch before giving it back to Palencia to put in the back of the net. The linesman ruled it void and the score stayed 1-0. It would have been interesting to see if the crowd would have had the same effect on that play during another game.

Again Pumas came in with the tricky ball over the line play in the 82nd. This time the ball had just gone over the line of the goal before Michel swatted it away. This was a legit goal and it was given to Pumas to make the score 1-1.

Pumas remain top of group 2 and now Chivas are 3rd behind Tecos with one point less. So it’s squeaky bum time.

Carlos Ochoa returned to play for a few minutes. He didn’t do much, but it was nice to see him in the first team again after his long time absence.

The next game will be in the Copa Libertadores against Everton in Chile on Wednesday. For that game Ramon Morales has been ruled out with a knock to his left foot.

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
17 Amaury Ponce (Marco Fabián 62′)
4 Héctor Reynoso
5 Patricio Araujo
20 Édgar Mejía (Ramón Morales 46′)
16 Édgar Solís
7 Gonzalo Pineda
18 Xavier Báez (Alberto Medina 58′)
14 Xavier Hernández
21 Jared Borgetti
9 Omar Arellano (YC 62′)
Dt Omar Arellano Nuño.

Lanús
13 Carlos Bossio
4 Rodolfo Graieb (YC 2′)
17 Santiago Hoyos
20 Emir Faccioli
3 Maximiliano Velazquez
14 Eduardo Salvio (Nicolás Ramírez 67′)
23 Diego González (RC 60′)
5 Matías Fritzler (YC 66′)(Sebastián Blanco 74′)
12 Eduardo Ledesma
7 Santiago Biglieri (Carlos Arce 59′)
18 Cristian Menendez (YC 31′)

Amaury Ponce had a rattling shot in the 8th minute. When that ball his the post it went something like boiiiing. I really like that he takes shots like these because you never know what can come of them. Usually, the team waits until they can almost just walk it in to the goal.

Chicharo had a good one in the 18th minute. He let the ball go a little too long and he ended up getting it into the keeper’s hands. He had a defender on his back too, but he could have done better.

In the 33rd minute Chicharo had another chance. He had a shot clear on goal but just hit the ball on the bounce. It had no direction, just pace, so it went wide.

Coming back in the 53rd, Jared Borgetti was fouled outside the area. The ref waived on play, and seconds later Chicharo was brought down in the box by the Lanus keeper. The ref gave nothing on either play.

Chivas was left with an extra man in the 60th minute, but they didn’t capitalize on that.

Arellano Jr. had a nice effort in the 79th. He tried to play it over the keeper, but the ball went a little too high and ended just over the cross bar.

Over all in the second half it seemed like old man Borgetti was getting more action than anyone else.

In the 89th he had a great header. It would have gone in, but a Lanus defender cleared it off the line. If it had gone in it would have been Borgetti’s first goal for Chivas. So far this season it has been his clearest chance all season.

Then…the 92nd minute. We earned a corned. The ball went a little long, but Chicharo was able to redirect it with his foot. Reynoso received it and jostled a bit with the Lanus players, but he was finally able to put it in. After everyone celebrated the game winning goal it was called off by the second assistant for offsides.

Arrg….I’m still irritated by that call. I don’t see an offsides at all. It’s ridiculous. I don’t like how the team played tonight. The game was boring, and we played like crap.

Coming up is the game against America on Sunday. El Classico. Both teams are kinda sucking right now, but I think Chivas will pull through. Last time Arellano was magic and with 2 Arellano’s there’s no way we can lose. That family does great against America so why stop there? Those eagles will turn into chickens that’s for sure.