The season is over. Chivas had the opportunity to move on but wasted opportunities, not just today but the whole season, and that’s why no more games will be played.

Francisco Ramirez didn’t work out. Raul Arias didn’t work out. Omar Bravo didn’t work out.

That’s why Chivas isn’t in the Liguilla and America is.

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
6 Omar Esparza (YC 51′)
3 Aarón Galindo
4 Héctor Reynoso
19 Jonny Magallón
11 Ramón Morales (Édgar Solís 49′)(RC 80′)
7 Gonzalo Pineda
20 Édgar Mejía
10 Alberto Medina
14 Javier Hernández
99 Omar Bravo
DT José Luis Real
Cruz Azul
1 Jesús Corona
16 Rogelio Chávez
4 Julio Domínguez
13 Melvin Brown (YC 52′)
2 Fausto Pinto
6 Gerardo Torrado
21 Jaime Lozano
28 Enrique Gutiérrez
18 César Villaluz (Emilio Hernández 46′)
30 Emmanuel Villa
27 Javier Orozco
DT Enrique Meza

To go on to the Liguilla Chivas needed to 1) win and 2) if San Luis drew they needed to win by 6+ difference.

Guess which one happened? Option number one. Queretaro won 4-0 against San Luis, giving Chivas the chance to move on. However, Chivas couldn’t score one goal against Cruz Azul.

The game started off with quick pace. Cruz Azul attacked first, but Chivas quickly responded with their own attacks. Neither were extremely significant but set the pace for what was to come.

For Chivas the attacks came in threes…a little like deaths. Nothing went in and that’s how it remained for the game.

Chivas did have a few significant opportunities including one by Bravo in the beginning of the second half. Bravo came up against Corona and could have taken a shot anywhere, but ended up giving the ball right to Corona.

Then in the 90th minute Villa stuck a fork(goal) in the back of the net and it was done. 1-0 and Chivas were out.

The truth is that Chivas didn’t really deserve to be in the Liguilla. Sure, play had improved but the season as a whole had been terrible. They had had all the previous opportunities to take over second place of an extremely bad group one and those were wasted.

So for the third consecutive short season, Chivas miss out on the Liguilla. The players are due back on November 30th for preseason training.

In the meantime time for a new manager. Although truth be told I wouldn’t mind if Real remained. His style is great and Chivas really turned around for the three games that he was in charge for. A preseason with the team would greatly help.

They sure did a lot of staring…into the back of their own nets.

Who missed the first goal? I did.

I was barely settling down when the second was scored.

Finally, a Chivas team that plays like what a Chivas team is supposed to play like.

Atlas
1 Mariano Barbosa
29 Mario Méndez (YC 80′)
2 Ismael Fuentes (YC 22′)
16 Hugo Ayala
8 Jorge Torres Nilo (Saúl Villalobos 46′)
4 Luis Enrique Robles
30 Darwin Chávez
22 Édgar Pacheco
10 Darío Botinelli (Christian Díaz 58′)
20 Hebert Alferez (Néstor Vidrio 71′)
11 Daniel Osorno
DT Ricardo La Volpe
Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel (YC)
6 Omar Esparza (YC 68′)
4 Héctor Reynoso (YC17′)
3 Aarón Galindo
19 Jonny Magallón
11 Ramón Morales (Édgar Solís 62′)
7 Gonzalo Pineda (YC 10′) (Patricio Araujo 64′)
20 Édgar Mejía
10 Alberto Medina
14 Javier Hernández
99 Omar Bravo (Omar Arellano 73′)
DT José Luis Real

Four goals.

Two came in within the first three minutes of the game. Atlas cut the lead in half with their goal in the 13th minute, mostly because Chivas were a little cocky at being ahead.

The team had plenty more opportunities to score, and if Ramon Morales had not been taken off in the 62nd minute there could have been many more. Chivas settled after the ex-captain was off.

But I’m liking this new coach. Jose Luis Real. Chivas looked better midweek against Indios(sorry about missing that…) but ended up drawing 2-2 at the last second. However, the team played heaps better. Medina looked impressive, Morales was back, Michel wasn’t forced too much and you could actually tell that Bravo was on the pitch.

It was more or less the same against Atlas.

Michel wasn’t too troubled and his performance wasn’t as outstanding as in previous games, mostly because it wasn’t forced to be.

The defense was positioned much better and didn’t have too much trouble.

The midfield was helpful and created many chances.

And up front the goals clearly weren’t lacking. The team could have added a few more but four goals are good enough.

The only bad thing about a win at this point is that Chivas will have to depend on others for a possible place in the Liguilla. Chivas in the Liguilla? It’s a possibility. Because of how they played today, I would say that they deserve it.

Unfortunately, San Luis won as well so a draw next week would give them the spot.

Chivas have to win against Cruz Azul. The Maquina has been doing well and have the top goalscorer(Villa) so it won’t be the easiest thing. The game is at home which should help a bit.

He’s been fired with three games to go in the Apertura 2009. Arias is the second manager fired this tournament. Chivas won three games, lost three and drew one.

The administration hasn’t said anything yet.

Jose Luis Real is rumored to be the interim manager for the last games.

Keep watching as the drama unfolds.

Yeah, me either.

I’m not even sure what happened here. Everything was going along well(as much as that word can mean for Chivas at the moment) and then BAM! 1-1, 2-1, 3-1.

There were some wacky moments but they don’t really justify what went on.

The 31st minute was when Chivas was awarded the penalty. Good play from the team, and it seems like the way that the goals will come under Arias. Not by penalties but by those types of plays. Anyways, Chicharo was brought down. Was it or wasn’t it? Replays make it look like Munoz tried to get his hands out of the way because he was anticipating what was going to happen and Chicharo just left his feet there. Chicharo isn’t really the type of player that goes looking for penalties so I’d have given it to him as well. He put it in and Chivas were 1-0 up.

In the 49th Esparza committed a foul in midfield but play went on. The ref went back and then gave Chicharo his second yellow because he had the players confused. That may have thrown the game off just a tad bit. The only good piece of news on that is that the card can be reversed by presenting evidence. It will then be taken off Chicharo’s record and put on to Esparza’s.

Then ensued Morelia’s goals. They were pretty great actually. I don’t think I really need to recount them. Two were top quality thought. One ‘chilena’ and another over the goalkeeper. Enough said.

Overall it was once again Michel that saved Chivas over and over again. The score could have been greater and that’s without Hugo Droguett and Miguel Sabah on the field.

Omar Bravo was useless…add in another game.

The defense was…not good.

That’s three straight losses.

The next stretch of games are all at home. Indios haven’t won either so finally Chivas will be able to play against a team that’s at the same level.

And some good news…several of the teams from the U-17 team are doing really well in the World Cup in Nigeria. They’ll play Korea on Thursday.

Chivas lost. Yes, lost. And against America which makes it even worse.

However, in this mediocre league that takes place in Mexico there is some good news.

Good news when Chivas lost against America, the most hated rival? How can that be?

The game took off early with a foul being given away at the edge of the area in the third minute in favor of America. The home team took advantage and Pavel Pardo swung in a great free kick. Aquivaldo Mosquera rose at the left post to send a blasting header past Luis Michel for the first goal.

In the 15th minute the referee has a tough decision to make as Salvador Cabanas fell to the ground. Edgar Solis pulled back as the Paraguayan fell to the ground, but nothing was called.

Then in the 18th minute ‘Tepa’ Solis headed a shot off the line, saving Chivas from a second early goal. Salvador Cabanas headed the ball, which seemed to go past Michel’s outstretched hand, but Solis was on the line to head the ball away.

Solis’ time on the field ended early. He was taken off in the 23rd minute and replaced by defender Mario de Luna, but he had his contribution of saving the goal off the line earlier in the game.

In the 35th minute Mejia had a clear hand ball in the area after Salvador Cabanas had another header, but nothing was given.

The second half was more or less the same. America had most of the opportunities during the game with Luis Michel keeping Chivas in the game.

Omar Bravo had an opportunity as well, but Ochoa did well enough to block it.

And…Chivas lost.

So what’s the good news that I previously mentioned?

To be honest Chivas is in a sucky group. They can play like crap(oh wait, the already are) and still qualify for the Liguilla. Everyone else in group 1 lost as well, providing a little cushion for the team.

So if the team gets even a little better, and Atlas continue to be Atlas, the Chivas can qualify to the Liguilla.

Now, the game.

Let’s see…the defense. It wasn’t completely terrible. It was caught in the early part, and from then on did an average job. Poor Solis is not having a good tournament. This isn’t the first game where he’s been pulled off for his performance. America clearly saw his weakness and consistently attacked on that side.

Luis Michel was a beast. He had incredible saves and easily was Chivas’ best player of the game.

I don’t understand why Ramon Morales is kept on the bench. Sure, it might be because Arias doesn’t need that type of player for his tactics, but then again his tactics aren’t really working out.

Poor Chicharo up front. He tried and tried, but he needed support. He couldn’t do it by himself but there was not support. Where was Omar Bravo, the captain? Being lazy it seems. It honestly seemed like he wasn’t even trying at all. Not exactly how a captain should perform. I was never too thrilled about Bravo returning…and I’m firm on my stance. I don’t think he’s added anything to the team.

The next game is against Morelia…and they lost against Puebla.

And to get things going here’s the Chivas’ website new promo for the game.

So the chicken thing continues.

Once again, Chivas are playing at the Azteca Stadium. This is because the dates were traded so that the next game between the two teams can be played at the new Chivas stadium.

The last game between the teams ended in favor of Chivas. That was on September 16th. Chivas wasn’t playing that well, and America was.

It is a Clasico…so everything is always thrown out the window.

In the early hours of the morning the Chivas U-17 bus was struck by a cargo truck. Dr. Ricardo Herrera died at the scene due to a traumatic brain injury.

Two players were injured, as well as the physical trainer and the manager.

Oscar Torres and Cesar Vasquez received facial injuries. Corazein Pardo was injured as well. As of now, it seems like manager Manuel Martinez received the most serious injuries, suffering from a lower brain stem injury. He has gone through surgery, and according to Jorge Vergara is expected to be fine. Those four in the most critical condition are reported to be stable now at the hospital.

The driver disappeared from the scene, and his whereabouts are unknown.

The team was coming back from a 2-3 win at Torreon, and the U-20 bus was following close by and witnessed the accident as well.

Games are subject to change for the lower division teams, although that decision will be made later when the conditions of the players are better accounted for.

As for now, rest in peace Ricardo Herrera.

Santos have been on a climb, so they most likely would have continued had it taken place over the weekend.

Santos
1 Oswaldo Sánchez
4 Ivan Estrada (YC 92′)
21 Juan Pablo Santiago
47 Uriel Alvarez
125 Rafael Figueroa
5 Fernando Arce (YC 84′)
58 Juan Pablo Rodríguez (YC 38′)
7 Walter Jimenez (Carlos Ochoa 60′)
11 José María Cárdenas
28 Darwin Quintero (YC 44′) (Daniel Ludueña 71′)
30 Matías Vuoso (YC 6′) (Juan Carlos Mosqueda 82′)
DT Sergio Bueno

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
19 Jonny Magallón
6 Omar Esparza
3 Aarón Galindo (YC 50′) (RC 57′)
4 Héctor Reynoso
16 Édgar Solís
20 Édgar Mejía
17 Sergio Amaury Ponce (Omar Arellano 80′)
18 Xavier Báez (Ramón Morales 89′)
99 Omar Bravo (Marco Fabián 69′)
14 Javier Hernández
DT Raúl Arias

First things first. Chivas did not create many chances. That’s how great it was.

Santos on the other hand had plenty of opportunities to score over and over again. Even Carlos Ochoa, who couldn’t score while at Chivas, had a decent opportunity.

The defense wasn’t great either. There were many silly tackles, and in the end one of those sent off Aaron Galindo.

The defense was really all over the place, and it was horrible. Honestly, a truly boring game. But is this what we should get accustomed to under Raul Arias? The past games have been pointing the way to ‘yes’.

Worrying is that Chivas plays America on Sunday. ‘El Clasico’…dun dun dun. America has clearly improved this season and it’ll be tough to beat them, especially at the Azteca Stadium. Although in recent times Chivas have had the upper hand in the games it will still prove difficult. They did have a difficult time against Puebla, but then again these games are a little different.

Just don’t play Johnny Magallon again…he always gets injured in those games.

But, I can complain about how the team’s been playing.

Estudiantes
1 Israel Villaseñor (YC 55′)
2 Oswaldo Alanís
3 Marcelo Alatorre
6 Rafael Medina (Rodrigo Ruiz 72′)
27 Juan Carlos Leaño
28 Carlos Morales (Ángel Partida 80′)
18 Jorge Zamogilny
20 Elgabry Rangel (Freddy Bareiro 86′)
10 Mauro Cejas
14 Rubens Sambueza (YC 27′)
9 Bruno Marioni
DT Miguel Herrera

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
6 Omar Esparza
4 Héctor Reynoso
2 Mario de Luna
16 Édgar Solís
20 Édgar Mejía (YC 83′)
18 Xavier Báez (YC 45′)
7 Gonzalo Pineda (YC 55′)
17 Sergio Amaury Ponce (YC 39′) (Marco Fabián 72′) (YC 93′)
9 Omar Bravo (Patricio Araujo 95′)
14 Javier Hernández (Antonio Salazar 92′)
DT Raúl Arias

What was missing? Ramon Morales. He hadn’t missed a game unless it was injury or something like that. This time the icon was left out due to tactical reasons.

Rafael Medina scored an incredible goal. That’s all that can really be said about that one.

I’ll be honest though. I fell asleep for most of the second half. That’s the kind of game that Chivas have been playing. The Raul Arias effect has been imposed. The defense has scarcely improved and that was seen with many of the dangerous moments that Estudiantes created.

It was definitely luck that gave Chivas the 2-1 win. Most of the battle was taking place in the midfield and that lucky penalty was a generous gift.

Or maybe it was Estudiantes’ unfortunate luck that just doesn’t allow them to win.

So, Chivas jumped to second place of Group 1. What does that mean? Well, if Chivas maintain second place that means a place in the Liguilla. The only challenger in that group(besides first place Toluca, but they don’t count) is Atlas. Sure, right now they’re in fourth place but only by one point. They are still very dangerous and can keep Chivas away from a spot in the final 8.

Next up is Santos on the 19th. Why on a Monday? Because there are elections in Torreon, so that takes priority.

Chivas did not do well defensively, and were caught several times as they tried to come up with opportunities.

The goats came up against one of the best teams so far in the Apertura 2009, but managed to scrape a win. At home.

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
19 Jonny Magallón
3 Aarón Galindo (YC 56′)
4 Héctor Reynoso
16 Édgar Solís
20 Édgar Mejía
17 Sergio Amaury Ponce
7 Gonzalo Pineda (YC 66′)
11 Ramón Morales (Omar Arellano 70′)
14 Javier Hernández
99 Omar Bravo
DT Raúl Arias

Monterrey
1 Jonathan Orozco
17 Eduardo Zavala (YC 54′)
5 Duilio Davino
21 Diego Ordaz (YC 45′) (José María Basanta 58′)
23 Felipe Baloy
20 Walter Ayovi
6 Gerardo Galindo (YC 23′) (Juan Carlos Medina 70′)
9 Sergio Santana (William Paredes 5′)
10 Oswaldo Martínez
26 Humberto Suazo (YC 44′)
11 Aldo de Nigris
DT Víctor Manuel Vucetich

I’m not sure what to say about the defense anymore. Even if all the flaws were pointed out, it wouldn’t really matter because the same things would happen again the following week. But, it wasn’t completely horrible. For the most part Chivas were on par with Monterrey.

And of course, Chicharo saved the day. Currently he is the highest scoring Mexican in the Apertura 2009 with 7 goals.

He popped up with one of his now well known headers to score the winning goal.

Next up is Santos on the 18th.