We’re STILL Unbeaten

By: Andrea | February 8th, 2009

With three of our boys gone(Aaron Galindo, Alberto Medina, Carlos Ochoa) on national team duty we were going to have to make do with what he had left. Alright, so it wasn’t going to be too bad and we thought that we had the game in the bag. After all, around Christmas time we had beaten Nexaca 3-1 at home. It’d be like deja-vu. Well, not exactly.

This was America’s little brother. They’re not supposed to have put up such a fight. But they did, and it wasn’t what we expected.

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
17 Amaury Ponce (Francisco Mendoza 63′)
4 Héctor Reynoso
19 Jonny Magallón
20 Édgar Mejía (Jesús Padilla 72′)
20 Édgar Mejía
16 Édgar Solís (Marco Fabián 54′)
18 Xavier Báez
5 Patricio Araujo
11 Ramón Morales
14 Javier Hernández
21 Jared Borgetti

DT Efraín Flores

Necaxa
12 Jorge Bernal
18 Luis Valdez (Pablo Gabas 77′) (Marvin del Cruz 90′)
4 Diego Cervantes
2 Pablo Quatrocchi
14 Mario Pérez
23 Joel González
7 Eduardo Coudet
17 Marco A, Gómez
9 Alfredo Moreno
10 Federico Inzúa
61 Luis F. García

The first minute started out well. Jared Borgetti got his first start with Chivas and he had a shot on goal right away. And Johnny Magallon was back!

At the the 5th min, not too long into the game, we were showing good team work. Everyone was meshing well together and we were getting to the Nexaca side quite a bit.

The 8th min foreshadowed what was to come for the rest of the game. Michel stopped a shot by Alfredo Moreno who got away from Reynoso.

Right away in the 9th, “Chicharito” Hernandez had a chance but a Necaxa player got in the way.

During the 14th, Michel saved us again on the line from a shot by Moreno. He had it out for us.

In the 21st “Chicharito” made a case for a penalty call but the ref waved the play on and Tepa Solis followed up with a power strike.

By the half hour mark the attacks by Necaxa were becoming more frequent and our were becoming rarer.

In the 31st we had a really good build-up with Tepa Solis going in from the left, the Ramoncito got it, the Xavi Baez, but it all ended in failure but it was a nice play by Chivas.

In the 35th we made it into Nexaca’s area again. Solis crossed the ball with Chicharito lunging forward for the ball while Borgetti hung back and looked on.

Again in the 41st Borgetti missed a chance as Chicharo crossed the ball only for one of the greatest goal scorers of all time to miss the opportunity.

Finally, the first half ended and the game went by quick. There was much action and both sides were lucky that it was still 0-0. The passing was sloppy but we were holding it together.

I’m sure all the players came out resolved to win the encounter. It certainly seemed that way in the 51st min when Chicharo headed the ball but it only went behind him.

In the 64th Moreno did some damage as he took away a long ball that got away from Reynoso. It was 1-0 for Necaxa.

Right away in the 65th we had an opportunity. Jared Borgetti, possibly the best heading expert in the biz missed. He hit the ball with his shoulder and failed to get us a sure equalizer.

The 83rd gave us a free kick. Master of all masters, Ramoncito Morales took it and made the most spectacular goal. His hit went towards the right of the goal, hit the post and rebounded in off the keeper. We had a 1-1.

Nothing much occurred after that. Fabian did have an opportunity in the 85th but it was slightly outside the goal.

Ramoncito saved our hides with that free kick. I love him, he’s my hero. Chicharito also impressed me with his never ending raids into the opposing area. He definitely deserves a look over and more inclusions with the first team. Johnny Magallon despite being out for a while hasn’t lost much of his level. He played well tonight and he can only get better with more competition for his spot.

Now the team will be heading for Argentina on Sunday for their game against Lanus on February 11th for the Copa Libertadores.