The Devil Came to Pay A Visit

By: Andrea | February 19th, 2009

Going into this game we were a little down. We had lost over the weekend to Santos and were hoping to get back on track with a win at home against Toluca. Of course, no one deemed this an easy task since Toluca is currently the reigning Mexican football champion. Well to put it short, another record was broken today.

Guadalajara

1 Luis Michel
17 Amaury Ponce
3 Aarón Galindo
4 Héctor Reynoso
19 Jonny Magallón
13 Sergio Ávila
18 Xavier Báez
20 Édgar Mejía
11 Ramón Morales
10 Alberto Medina
27 Carlos Ochoa

DT Efraín Flores

Toluca

125 Hernán Cristante
29 Mario Méndez
14 Édgar Dueñas
3 Paulo Da Silva
6 Manuel de la Torre
55 Israel López
5 Martín Romagnoli
10 Antonio Naelson
11 Carlos Esquivel
9 Héctor Mancilla
75 Néstor Calderón

DT José Manuel de la Torre

Within about the first 7 minutes our glamor defense(that’s what I’ve heard many call it) seemed to be having a little trouble. Already, Toluca had made two great runs and were making us sweat.

It was finally in the 30th minute of a not too exciting game that Venado Medina made a good run up the field. It seems like many of our players are turning a little too individualistic and Medina is one of those. He had Ochoa and Avila inside the area unmarked, but he squandered a weak shot into Cristante’s arms instead of passing to his teammates.

Again in the 41st we came close when Chivas had a corner. Cristante the great managed to get a hand on it before it became too serious and avoided a goal.

Right before the end of the first half Xavi Baez had a great chance after a good run by Captain Ramon Morales. Baez shot the ball from outside the area, but it was redirected by Ochoa’s foot and was eventually deemed offsides because of this action.

Back for the second part of the game it was Toluca who went up first in the 54th minute. A corner kick left many Toluca players unmarked which gave Mario Mendez the advantage as he scored to go 1-0.

It wasn’t until the 74th minute that Chivas managed to score an equalizer. Jared Borgetti who hasn’t made the most stellar case for why he’s at Chivas drew a foul outside the area. Free kick master and all around awesome guy, Super Captain Ramon Morales, took the free kick with his good ol’ trusty left foot. His shot went in to the top left corner leaving Cristante looking on.

Chivas looked noticeably in better spirits after this surge but nothing much came from it.

In the 79th Marco Fabian claimed a penalty call after he rushed into the area only to end up on the ground. For his diving antics he was given a yellow card for a penalty that never was.

Again in the 82nd Toluca managed to score. Carlos Esquivel shot from outside the area and his shot was deflected by a Toluca player on the ground. The ball went past Michel to make it 2-1.

In the 85th Paulo Da Silva of Toluca managed to draw a second yellow card and threw himself out of the game. Even with the extra man advantage Chivas failed to capitalize and ended the game with a final score of 2-1.

Overall I don’t think lessons were learned from the game on Sunday. The defense was not too great at time during the game and it should be better because on paper we’ve probably got the best one around. So, work on that guys.

Borgetti has yet to impress me. His main contribution so far was the foul he received that eventually led to the goal by Morales.

And Ochoa…where are the goals? You were on fire in preseason and in the first game. What happened?

So much for showing the red devils who’s boss…

The next game will be against Morelia on Saturday February 21st. Morelia is coming off a loss to Indios so HOPEFULLY we can take advantage of that.