El Classico…Get Well Soon

By: Andrea | October 27th, 2008

Today we played EL CLASSICO. It started with a lot of flair. I mean, even Pele was there. To commemorate his important moments at the Azteca but still. He was there. THE Pele was. Oh, and might I add, we played pretty well. I’d say our confidence was up coming to this game(I know mine was) and everything was going well. A midweek win in Argentina helped boost our confidence, that’s for sure. But some bad news…

With Morales coming back injured we said goodbye to our captain and perhaps the most experienced player for this match. Luckily, it didn’t seem like we missed him too much. A win at the Azteca stadium seemed a bit daunting especially since we were away from home. A win would give us 3 much needed points, but a draw wouldn’t have been too bad either. A point is a point and it would have helped on the table. Anyways we started with
Guadalajara

30 Hugo Hernández
6 Omar Esparza (Alberto Medina 56′)
20 Édgar Mejía
4 Héctor Reynoso
19 Jonny Magallón
16 Édgar Solís
5 Patricio Araujo
18 Xavier Báez
8 Marco Fabián (Gonzalo Pineda 52′)
9 Omar Arellano
21 Sergio Santana (Sergio Ávila 64′)

and America with
1 Guillermo Ochoa
15 Jesús Sánchez
2 Ismael Rodríguez
5 Enrique Vera
6 Sebastián Domínguez
4 Oscar Rojas
20 Alejandro Argüello
25 Juan Carlos Silva (Juan Carlos medina 46′)
8 Federico Insua (Juan Carlos Mosqueda 79′)
7 Alfredo Moreno (Enrique Esqueda 68′)
9 Salvador Cabañas

Up to the 10th min we constantly attacked and troubled America’s defense. Solis also came down on the edge of the area and we were awarded a free kick which flashed across the goal.

In the 11th Arellano scored a goal which could have gone in as easily as not. It came off a cross/shot from Santana and we were up 1-0.

During the 24th minute Arellano and Fabian had a good combination up front but the moment was wasted by Fabian who fired a weak shot, one that could have done more damage.

The 26th min saw danger in our area. An America player played the ball in to our area with so much pace that as it rebounded off the top corner of the post, the “crack” was clearly heard. In the process Hernandez hit his jaw and had to be treated but was luckily able to continue.

Unfortunately, bad luck landed in our area when a corner headed by Dominguez went into goal. He had two defenders on it but our tallest, Reynoso, was overcome by him anyways. Hernandez dove the right way but was unable to get to the ball. It was the 32nd min and we were level 1-1.

In the 39th Araujo received a yellow for a foul on Insua.

Another scare in the 40th as Salvador Cabanas rounded the goalkeeper and scored but he was offsides. Still, it scared me.

So, half time came and the game was exciting. The constant attacking by Chivas had been welcomed although America slightly leveled after their equalizer to make it more of an even game. Despite the young age of the squad they were coping in the big game.

In the 2nd, the line up stayed the same for our side.

In the 5th min there was a great build up by Fabian and the shot rebounded and was shot by Santana. He was offside and he sent it over goal but it was a good effort.

The 7th min saw a HUGE mistake from America in which they missed a goal due to bad communication. Or confusion. It seemed like they were defending on the wrong side of the pitch.

11th min and Esparza went out injured and Medina came in.

The same minute saw an incredible save by Hernandez on a shot by Magallon which could have easily been an own goal.

19th min Santana came off for Avila.

In the 26th we saw an incredible goal again by Arellano. He ran and shot the ball over Ochoa for a spectacular shot and the 3rd goal this week.

The 44th we saw Magallon go out injured and it seemed like he hurt his arm as he was carried off in the little ambulance car. We had no more subs left and we were down to 10 men for the remainder of the game.

So, the game ended and we won 2-1. A great win away from home and a good addition to our points tally. Arellano scored both and it seems like its become a tradition to scored in the Classico’s for his family(both his grandfather and father did as well in their day). Hernandez didn’t have as great as a performance as he did in Argentina but then again America didn’t have as many great of shots. I was impressed with this game as I usually am with all the other classico’s but hopefully this week was a turn around to a winning streak.

The only bad thing, terrible thing actually, is that Johnny Magallon fractured his arm in a Michel-esque way. So he’ll be about for 2-3 months. Out of La Liga, Sudamericana, and El Tri. I wish him speedy recovery because he is a player that we’ll definitely miss. A rock that one.

An update on the Nery Castillo saga. It’s not only the players who don’t want him to come, it is him as well. At the time he has no desire to play in the America’s. My message to him: If you were regularly playing in Europe with Man City great. But unfortunately my friend you are not. It doesn’t seem like the time to be picking and choosing where you want to play. Wherever you can get minutes seems adequate. But perhaps Vergara will stop seeing as how Arellano has had some great performances this week. You missed out and we will gain from it.