Having barely edged past Cuba 2-1 in their 1st game, Mexico went into its 2nd game against Honduras with a stronger line-up–Hugo Sanchez, Mexican manager, looking for a more believable victory to overshadow the Mexican blushes.

And for large amounts of the game Mexico held the advantage over their modest Central American neighbors with possession and passing that lacked the speed and cutting edge that is typically an Achilles heel when it comes to Mexican National sides.

The Hondurans showed that they could play counterattacking football and kept patience, not frustrated by the amount of Mexican possession. Apart from Honduras’ early penalty miss, the Mexicans looked comfortable enough as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead through Blanco’s converted penalty and seemed as if they had everything in control going into the break.

Blanco’s heroics turned sour though in the 2nd half when he was shown red for his atomic elbow during some corner-kick shannagins, supplying his critics with a renewed reason to call time on his International career.

True the Honduran defender blew a few kisses into his ear, but the middle-aged maestro should have kept his cool on this one because as it played it out, it was the difference in the game–as Honduras made their man advantage count, punishing Mexico with 2 unanswered goals.

Honduran striker Carlos Costly provided the lethal touches, scoring a superb volley early in the 2nd half and a clinical header at the death to pull the shock upset.

Mexico now must defeat Panama in the third and final game to claim progression to the knockout stages of the Gold Cup.

 

Hats off to Pachuca (and to Mongoose for his prediction) for their treble winning ways. Already holding both the Copa Sudamericana and Champions’ Cup, Pachuca had to get past a revitalized America to claim the coveted Mexican League trophy.

The Clausura Championship Finals got started off on Friday with Pachuca playing away at Aztec Stadium, but showing no fear as they pulled out to a 2 goal lead in the 2nd half–the striker Juan Cacho providing both clinical finishes.

But just as it looked as the 2nd leg on Sunday would be a mere formality, American maestro, Cuauhtemoc Blanco finished a controversial penalty to give America a hope of winning something (they got punished by Santos in the Copa Libertadores) this season.

So, with Sunday finally coming around, it was up to America to keep a clean sheet and put 2 goals past the gigantic Calero in goal. Blanco came through again by opening the scoring in the 68th min. Pachuca, however, was not to be denied as Cacho levelled the scores in the 82 min., securing a 3rd piece of silverware for Los Tuzos.

America avenged last season’s semifinal disappointment to Chivas, by beating the All-Mexs this time around 2-0 on aggregate on Sunday.

America followed up their 1-0 victory at home in Aztec Stadium on Thursday with another 0-1 victory on the road at Jalisco to set themselves up for a Mexican showdown with Pachuca. Thanks largely to their goalkeeper, Francisco Ochoa, America was able to keep 2 clean sheets against Chivas’ usual high scoring power.

Las Aguilas will be hoping to follow the lead of the standard set by Pachuca by winning a brace of trophies (hopefully they can keep Pachuca from winning a 3rd) to close out this Clausura Championship. With a great chance to take the domestic league trophy, America is still alive in its Copa Libertadores Quarterfinal tie with Santos though they face a tough return match in Brazil on Wednesday.

With scores level at nil-nil, the Mexicans will be hoping that an away goal or two will be all that’s needed to reach the semifinal. And behind their small shot blocking goalkeeper, Francisco Ochoa, and the leadership and experience of Blanco and German Villa in the midfield, American seem to have the nerve, discipline, and quality to propel another Mexican club into the World Football spotlight.

Even though Las Aguilas are in flight, the only question now is will the eagle be landed?

As displayed by their final penalty to take the crown of best in the Western Hemisphere. Yes, on the global scale Mexican Soccer has weighed in as the heavy weights.

First capturing South America through 2006 South American Cup honors and now taking North America with 2007 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup honors, Pachuca is now on course to take a 3rd trophy by winning the Mexican League.

Savages, when have you had the chance to see the Champions of a whole hemisphere? Well, for the last time you have the chance. See Pachuca play one of their last matches for the season tomorrow.

The game starts at 6 pm on Galavision. If you don’t have Galavision, then you missed out on when the getting was good. You missed watching one of the best teams Mexico has ever produced, and one that dismantled the current MLS champs by coming back from 2-0 down to go up 5-2 when the final whistle blew a few weeks ago.

These guys are the real deal, and for any of you fogies that can’t accept Pachuca as number one, lay down because Los Tuzos are either running over you, or splicing through you with ease—10-1 vs. Toronto FC right now.

Oh, Mexican vs. Canadian match-ups, what a twist! Be on the look out for our European Season summaries that will be released as the leagues are winding down.  

Enjoy your weekends, players and poets!

Pachuca drew level (2-2) against Guadalajara on the road this past Wednesday to set up a chance at a brace of trophies for the modest Mexican club.

Though Pachuca took the lead early in the Jalisco stadium, Chivas’ and Mexican International striker Oscar Bravo scored two unanswered goals to put the all-Mexs in the driver’s seat before Pachuca scored the leveler in the last 10 min. of the match to reclaim the advantage for next Wednesday’s 2nd Leg decider.

Pachuca, which has already claimed the Copa Sudamericana, is enjoying a rich form of late as they are also with a superior goal difference in La Liga Mexicana and look likely to also press for the league trophy like Mongoose said.

Of course, Guadalajara is still within shouting distance to claim the silverware, and considering their experience and knowledge of winning trophies, they are probably favored to lift the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.  

Still, I’ll be pulling for Pachuca to stay on course for the treble.

Cruz Azul faced Group 2 mid-table side San Luis on the road with the onus of taking 3 pts. and stretching their lead over Guadalajara at the top of Group 1.

With striker Borguetti consigned to a substitute role, it was difficult to see where the goals were going to come from for the Blue Cross. In a drab, holding game, both teams had seemed to play each other square when a San Luis midfielder was rewarded for his energy and straight drive dribbling.

Irenio Soares picked up the ball in midfield and drove straight at a pedantery Cruz Defense and slotted into an empty net, after surging into the penalty area and finishing off a richote, from off the keeper, who acted as the vacant center back and tried to step-up and stop the danger.

Cruz Azul were punished again this time by the forward Sebastian Pereira who added the security goal as the machine tried to push forward for the leveler,

Luckily for Cruz Azul, Chivas was also defeated (1-0) at the weekend by America, who rebounded strongly after their defeat at the hands of Monterrey last week.

In another tight match, the veteran German Villa flashed into the area to head past the keeper a ball that was played a 1st time volley back across the box by forward Salvador Cabanas. Considering the quality of the cross that set up the goal, America were rightful winners, and were rewarded themselves, as they reclaimed top spot (though level on pts. with Tigres) in Group 3.

Having not played the last two rounds, Pachuca is still the leader in Group 2 with the advantage of having 2 games in hand.

Perhaps Chivas had one eye on this Sunday’s Clasico when they came out against DC United in mid-week and pulled level in the States. Remember though they actually lost to W Connection in Trinidad already in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and still advanced.

They now turn with confidence to Azteca and take on their old league rivals America, who limp into this classic, having dropped to 2nd place in Group 3 with their loss to bottom side Monterrey (1-0) also in the midweek. Las Aguiles have shown worrying inconsistency with 4 defeats already in the league and big losses in the Copa Libertadores.

Chivas, on the other hand, missed out on a chance to retain their 1st Place Spot in Group A, as Cruz Azul took advantage of the missed game and have taken the lead for the moment.   

Having lost to Chivas in the Semifinal legs to end last season, America will be hoping that a victory will heal the pain and loss of last season and begin to turn this season around.

Reigning Apertura Champions, Guadalajara crashed to Pachuca in the 3rd Round of Futbol Ligue Mexican last weekend slipping into 4th place (of six teams) in Group 1.

Chivas, making an indifferent start to the new season, playing without inspirational keeper Oswaldo Sanchez, will need to rediscover their Champions form this weekend when they meet Cruz Azul, who sits in 3rd place, one spot above the Champs.

With the game cruising, the all-Mexis looked safe enough to at least pull a point until Pachuca’s substitute striker Landín snuck in at the end and punished the home side with a last gasp victory strike, propelling the newly crowned Copa de Sudamericana Champions into top spot in Group 2. 

Cruz Azul took care of business on the road as the return journeyman, Borguetti scored in classical fashion at the end of the 1st half, taking advantage of a defensive mishap in the box with a blind, back-to-goal redirect that lobbed the stranded keeper and nestled in at the back post.

Monterrey pulled level with Gracián’s penalty kick in the 2nd half, but Cruz Azul was not to be denied as the midfielder Núñez, just minutes later, curled in a left-footed free kick at the near post, sealing the victory in the 63rd min.

Atlas, however, has claimed top spot of Group 1 as their (1-0) victory over America propelled them to the summit (though Necaxa is level on points as they secured a win over Santos). Morelia rounds off the groups as top gunners in Group 3.

Not only does this weekend unfold the mini-classic between Chivas and Cruz Azul, but it will also be interesting as Atlas welcome Morelia and Pachuca host Necaxa in top table Mexican showdowns.

Club América opened up the 2007 Mexican Clausura Championship in goal fashion as their 4 goal demolition of San Luis prompted another onslaught of gold as América beat Sporting Cristal of the Peruvian Liga with another 5 in their opening fixture of the South American Libertadores Cup.

Claudio Lopez opting to return to Argentina, back to the club that started it all for the sharp Argentine front man, translates into a return of Cuauhtemoc Blanco who can now solidify more influence within the game—and hopefully get a more full run of games—as last term the Mexican talisman was used more sparingly, but to great effect in their semi-final run through last term.

Las Aguilas, however, then crashed to Tigres last Saturday in the Mexican League, followed by a loss to Sporting Cristal in the return leg of the Libertadores Cup (though the Mexicans get through on aggregate).

This weekend they face Atlas for an early rematch of their quarter-final showdown last term when América edged them out to earn their chance to crack Chivas.

Atlas is on top of Group 1 while América sit in 2nd spot in Group 3—though it is still early days of the league.

America came into their semifinal 1st leg against Chivas on a conga line of goals (they defeated Atlas 6-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals), but found the defense of Chivas much harder to crack.

There was early pressure from both teams in the 1st half with both teams creating chances. Chivas had the early pressure, but it was Blanco who came closest with a flick that hit the back post. Chivas created a great chance in the 30th min. with the striker Bravo just missing also at the back post.

America threatened again in the 40th min. when defender Castro tried his luck from outside the 18 with a shot that sailed just wide of Oswaldo Sanchez and the post. Despite the pressure, it was goalless as the teams went into half time.

The tide turned in the 53rd min. when Morales slotted home a penalty after Chivas striker, Bautista was brought down by Castro in the penalty area. Bautista then turned provider in the 61st min. when his cross from the right was headed home by Mexican International, Oscar Bravo.

America clawed back in opportunity in the 88th min., but striker Cabanas’ penalty effort was saved by Sanchez and then thwarted on the follow up rebound.

America goes back to Aztec Stadium on Sunday for the 2nd leg with the pressure of having to score 3 goals and keep a clean sheet to get to the Finals.