🦅 2-1 🐐: América soars in festive Clásico Nacional
PLUS: I have a Ticketmaster nightmare and turn to reventa
What happened:
The last two Clásico Nacionals have been scoreless, tight affairs. Fans were still filing into their seats at the Estadio Azteca when it became clear this one wouldn’t be.
Chivas center back Luis Olivas brought down América forward Jonathan Rodriguez with a clumsy tackle that sent Las Aguilas to the spot for a fourth-minute penalty.
Henry Martin converted, then celebrated in the style of América legend Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
América continued to push for a second, with a Diego Valdes chance following the goal, but both goalkeepers were able to keep anything else from going in as the teams went into the halftime break at 1-0.
In the second half, though, El Paso native and FC Dallas academy product Alejandro Zendejas found the back of the net from a flowing move, continuing a strong season that has fans on both sides of the border wondering (and confused) about his national team status.
The second goal woke Chivas up as they began to swing the control of the match. Substitute Cristian Calderon scored two minutes after entering, and América manager Francisco Oritz had to make structural changes with a triple sub in the 72nd minute to put the clamps on the visitors and see out the victory.
“We didn’t have many days to prepare, but we knew what we had to do,” América center back Sebastián Cáceres said after the game “We knew how strong Chivas is on counter-attacks but were able to finish off the game.”
Chivas manager Ricardo Cadena was frustrated after the match, saying the officiating was “terrible” and taking issue with a number of decisions.
Fans, and the team’s official Twitter account, wondered if things were the other way around in a 56th minute save by Guillermo Ochoa would’ve gone to video review and been given as a goal.
I think Cadena is right that officiating in Mexico could certainly benefit from better officiating, but I don’t think the VAR has enough to see if the whole ball crosses the whole line on the Ochoa save.
América was the better team Saturday and ended up getting a deserved victory in a match where both teams showed they desperately wanted to win.
Why it matters:
It’s the Clásico. Of course it matters.
They didn’t bust it out until after the game, but the supporters around us sang that they were part of the 50+1, the biggest fan base in the country that more than half of the nation supports. I don’t think that’s statistically accurate in Mexico, but these two clubs are undoubtedly the nation’s most popular teams.
After each got off to rough starts this season, they’ve roared back, with América taking the top perch in the league and sitting as my favorite to win the title. Once again, their balance between a stern defense backed by Ochoa and a capable attack was on display.
Chivas are less balanced, too dependent on Alexis Vega in attack and happy to defend - a posture that works out fine until an early goal puts you on the back foot.
With the loss, the Guadalajara side falls out of contention for the top four, meaning it will have to go through a one-off repechaje game while América, Monterrey, Pachuca and potentially Santos Laguna wait at home for their two-legged quarterfinal series.
Behind the scenes:
The fans filed in next to us wearing bright yellow shirts, but the woman to my left quickly pulled something out of her pocket. It was the distinctive red-and-white shirt of Chivas. In a section only América fans (and neutral visitors from the United States) were allowed into, she and a few others around us sneaked in using América camouflage and made a small cheering section that would get shouted down any time they started with a Chi-vas (clap, clap, clap) effort.
There is a less-than-subtle nod that this game is a big one. As the players walk onto the field with the Liga MX anthem playing, a pyrotechnic show welcomes them, extra sizzle other league matches at the Azteca don’t get.
To our right, the drums and horns went all night, with fans climbing the fence to help lead songs and cheers as the vast majority of fans celebrated a Clásico victory.
It was a great atmosphere. We almost didn’t get to experience it.