There’s a Party and We’re Not Invited

By: Andrea | May 10th, 2009

Another season has come and gone, and we’re left out of the Liguilla. That’s two in a row if you haven’t been counting, and with the Libertadores taken out of our hands the season is over. Finished. To qualify we needed to win. Period. Indios had a tougher challenge and needed to win by a 2+ goal differential. Anything else would see America through.

We were in it for quite a while, until Indios(can you believe that they were just fighting relegation not too long ago) decided to get going and beat us 3-1. The only positive part is that at least America is out too.

Indios
1 Humberto Hernández
3 Juan de la Barrera (YC 19′)
5 Javier Malagueño
7 Manuel Pérez
8 Tomás Campos
9 Ezequiel Maggiolo (Héctor Giménez 82′)
12 Marco Vidal (Daniel Frías 53′)
15 Edwin Santibañez
22 Juan Pablo Rodríguez (Javier Saavedra 65′)
25 Sidney Balderas
26 Juan Ramón Curbelo (YC 30′)
DT Héctor Hugo Eugui

Guadalajara

1 Luis Michel
19 Jonny Magallón (Patricio Araujo 62′)
3 Aarón Galindo
6 Omar Esparza
33 Mario de Luna (YC 24′)
16 Édgar Solís
18 Xavier Báez (YC 71′)
11 Ramón Morales (Omar Arellano 65′)
7 Gonzalo PIneda
10 Alberto Medina
14 Javier Hernández (Carlos Ochoa 60′)
DT Francisco Ramírez

The game didn’t start out too well, and there were several instances where the defense had a little trouble controlling Indios. Michel did manage to make a few saves to stop the early goal, but that’s about it.

Morales had a good chance in the 38th minute when he hit a volley with his left foot. The Indios keeper saved and kept the score at 0-0.

After a dull first half it was until the very end that Chivas managed to score. In the 45th, Medina took a ball crossed in by Chicharo and slotted it into the net. The ball had originally been wasted by the Indios defense who mishandled it, and were left standing as they watched it go in.

Coming back for the second half Indios didn’t waste any time to show what was to come. In the 57th Frias sent a shot that rattled the crossbar. It only took 10 minutes when Frias once again spearheaded the attack. He took advantage of the fact that Michel was on the edge of the box and coolly chipped the ball over Michel to make it 1-1. With a 1-1 draw America was going through.

The game got more exciting in the last 5 minutes. Unfortunately, it meant doom for us.

In the 87th minute Gimenez went on to score. Michel had been out during the cross, and was unable to get to the ball in time. With the 2-1 score America was still getting through, and although more goals were needed for either team to advance, Gimenez took the time to celebrate.

When it seemed like the game was ending, Indios scored once again to go through. In the 91st minute Gimenez scored once more to make it 3-1.

Ummm…so yeah. It’s over. I thought it was pretty simple to get through, but apparently the team didn’t want it bad enough.

It’s not that the players played bad, it’s just that Indios played better.

Football fans can be real hypocritical at times though. I know I certainly can be. When Indios went up 2-1 with so little time left I wanted Chivas to quit trying just so America wouldn’t go through either.

Now I’m anxious to see if Ramirez gets fired. His record is worse than Arellano’s.

Don’t worry though. The coverage isn’t over. Season end awards will be here.