Galaxy still alive

At my office we are doing a small pot on the League Cup. Eight of us drew a random team of the eight left in the quarterfinals and in the end the winner get the pot if your draw wins the tournament. Happy to say that I am still in the competition as I drew LA Galaxy, who defeated the current Mexican champions of Toluca 2-1, with the new signing Marco Reus scoring his first goal for the Californians. 

It was all in all a dreadful day for the Mexican sides, who were all eliminated. I watched Inter Miami eliminate Tigres of UANL 2-1. Luis Suarez´s scored both Miami goals on penalty kicks, both called for handball. I personally think they were both very weak calls, specially the second penalty, which came at the end of the match when Tigres were dominating following Angel Correa´s equaliser for the Monterrey side. Not that it was undeserved that Miami won; they had a good first half, but with Tigres´strong second half the match could have gone to either side, and it is a pity it is decided on a penalty kick that should not have been given as it was not a danger situation and the ball hit the player´s arm in a random situation. But in VAR times any handball is defensible, no matter the intention or situation. 

I guess now to support LA Galaxy, who will face Seattle Sounders!

Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals

My favourite Mexican side, Cruz Azul, are in the final of the CONCACAF Champions club for the first time since 2014. The match that took them to the final was a 1-0 victory in a nervous and tactical match against the Tigres of UANL, winning on a late handball penalty (quite harsh) scored by Angel Sepulveda (the top scorer of the tournament). 

Great for a club whom success often eluded (but I bring good luck), although the final will not be easy. They will face the MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, who already eliminated the Pumas of UNAM in the quarterfinals, and basically destroyed Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the semifinals with a total of 5-1 (underlining that a football team is not made by stars and names). The Vancouver side is managed by the ex-Brøndby and Silkeborg Manager, Jesper Sørensen, who is looking for the Canadian side's first continental title (it would indeed be the first for a Canadian side, and the fourth for an MLS side, in the sad case that they win).

The final will be on June 1st in Los Angeles.

Mexican League opening

I am in my fifth month of lockdown. I have spent it alone in my house, privileged and under good conditions. But that does not take away that it is affecting me. I keep busy, but have a really difficult time staying positive as I read nothing but bad news of a world going to hell, miss friendly company, and feel I have really nothing to look forward to.
Football used to be something I looked forward to, and I guess with the suspension of football worldwide a lot of people have been looking forward to the weekly semi-religious ceremonies of football restarting.
Yesterday I was browsing around the TV when I came across the opening match of the Mexican "Guardianes" (the new name of the Mexican top League) season between Necaxa and Tigres UANL. UANL, who are vying for the title, were far superior, winning 0-3 with a two goals by the French striker Andre-Pierre Guignac and one by the Chilean Eduardo Vargas. But the star was the 19 year old Uruguayan Leonardo Fernandez, who appears to be touted as a future star.
Although Tigres were far superior, I enjoyed watching the match, which was without spectators. And perhaps I need to look forward to something. Tonight there is another match between Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna, two teams that are contenders for the title. And on August 7th the Champions League is starting again, so I think I will try to look forward to these matches, and perhaps use football to feel that I am a part of something!
And a few beers!

MLS-Liga MX 2-0

The first of four Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals were decided today, and they were two matches between MLS sides New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC, and Liga MX sides Tijuana and Tigres UANL, respectively.
New York Red Bulls had a 0-2 away advantage after a hard-fought and lucky away win. Tijuana attacked from the start, and even went ahead 0-1, but the New Yorkers were unforgiving in the counter-attack and won 3-1, taking the first semifinal spot for MLS. Toronto were 2-1 ahead before going to "El Volcan" in Nueva Leon. Toronto defended their lead, but were strong in counter-attack as Tigres pushed more and more. In the end Tigres won 3-2, but this was not enough, and Toronto are in the semifinals, second MLS team.
Tomorrow Seattle Sounders, holding a 1-0 lead, are likely to become the third MLS team against a Chivas Guadalajara side that is playing awful. This will mean that there are three MLS sides in the semifinals, and one Mexican, as America are likely to progress from their 4-0 lead against Tauro, from Panama.
America are surely a strong side, but after having watched the MLS sides, I would put money on this being the first year that MLS shows that it is better than the Mexican League.

Tigres: Mexican champions

Since I arrived in El Salvador I have been watching a lot the Mexican league, and I have really enjoyed a great league, with excellent teams, players and fantastic atmosphere. The second leg of the Apertura final was played tonight. It was a historic final as it was the first time the two arch rivals from Nuevo Leon, Rayados de Monterrey and Tigres UANL, faced one another for the title.
The first match, at UANL had ended 1-1, and since Rayados had been strong all season, they were probably favourites as they were to play the second leg at home in a fantastic stadium with an incredible atmosphere.
And it all seemed to go the way of the home team as they went ahead 1-0 after two minutes on a goal by the Colombian Dorlan Pabón. Nobody had scored more than one goal in Monterrey during this clausura tournament, so things seemed to be going the right way for Rayados.
But Tigres were well organised and in particular Enner Valencia was causing a lot of trouble for Rayados left back. It was Eduardo Vargas who equalised, and shortly after Another Colombian, Francisco Meza scored a second for the away team.
Francisco Meza, central defender, played a fantastic match in defense, and crowned it with the goal that would eventually be the winner.
In the second half Rayados attacked well, but Tigres defended better. Towards the end Rayados got a penalty, but Aviles Hurtado (yet another Colombia) was shooting for the moon when he kicked the ball high above the goal.
Could not help but feel sorry for Rayados, who were the best team throughout this tournament and their great home fans, who must be heartbroken.
As to myself, I am thrilled by having discovered the excitement of the Mexican league, and I now hope to be able to visit Mexico to watch some football, and maybe find myself a Mexican club to support!