The 2012 Mexican Clausura got underway last night in Morelia. Monarcas hosted Tijuana, hoping to get their campaign off to a 3 point start. However, the Xolos had other ideas and fought them to a nasty 1-1 draw at full time.
The match really did look like the first match of a new season. Neither side looked to be particularly fit or sharp on the ball. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and a ton of diving and simulation, which in the end became part of the theme of the evening.
Morelia controlled the ball for most of the first half, except for a few flashes of possession and half chances for the Xolos. Still, it didn't look like they were really pushing it. Honestly, the match was so out of control at times that I was surprised there was only one yellow at half time. That particular card was issued to Morelia's Jorge Ocampo for a 7th minute challenge on Xolo's 'keeper Cirilo Saucedo.
Morelia also got the first goal of the game on 23 minutes, making the pressure they were generating on offense finally count. Coming up the pitch, they got three players in behind the Xolos' defense and Saucedo had no chance. Rafa Marquez Lugo slotted the goal home to make it 1-0.
It looked like that was gonna be all she wrote for the first half and for the Xolos' night. However, all hell broke loose on a Tijuana counter in first half stoppage time. Xolos striker Duvier Riascos tangled with Morelia's Adrian Alderete just to the left of the Morelia goal. The two players basically went down on top of each other and slid over the end line. Originally, the referee ruled a goal kick and gave Riascos a yellow card for diving. However, upon talking to the near side linesman he overruled himself, waiving off the yellow card and awarding Xolos a penalty. Replays showed there was little, if any contact on the play. My high school Spanish is pretty rusty, but the announcers just kept saying "No, no, no." At any rate, Jose Sand nailed the spot kick on the last kick of the half and it was 1-1 at the interval.
The second half was just as scrappy as the first, but featured a ton of diving, especially as Xolos tried to waste time. Riascos spent more time on his back than he did on his feet. In the 57th minute Morelia's Joao Rojas tried his own dive in the penalty area move, but this time the ref gave the yellow card and trusted his instinct. It was pretty brazen.
Morelia did have a chance to win it late. In the 84th minute striker Miguel Sabah managed to get his head to the ball, only to find his shot go just wide of the target. The match finished 1-1 as Xolos' time wasting tactics took their toll, and I'm sure they'll more than take the point on the road.
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