2012 CCL Quarters: Morelia vs. Monterrey

Monterrey's Jesus De Nigris strikes. (Rayados.com)

So this matchup is the only quarterfinal to pit two Mexican Primera sides against each other. Monterrey is the defending CCL champs, meanwhile Morelia has been flying high in the league. I looked for Morelia to do better honestly.

The match started out a little tentative on both sides. The clubs traded possession a bit, but there were no chances carved out until Edison Toloza put Morelia's first shot high in the 17th minute. After that, Morelia seemed to begin to warm to the task.

Their possession became much more steady and they started to hem Monterrey in close to their own penalty area. In the 20th minute Rafael Marquez Lugo rolled a shot on goal, but their best chance came in the 22nd minute. Edgar Lugo took a cross in the area and put a bullet header on target. Jonathan Orozco stuck out his left leg, and the ball barely deflected wide off of his shin. It really should have been 1-0.

Then just a few minutes later, Monterrey struck first against the run of play. In the 28th, Mauricio Romero took down Angel Reyna Martinez just inside the 18, resulting in a penalty kick for Monterrey. Humberto Suazo stepped up and nailed the spot kick to make it 0-1 to Monterrey.

Morelia responded right away to giving up the all important away goal, engineering a couple more quality chances before halftime. Marquez Lugo nearly struck again in the 37th, but Orozco denied him. Unfortunately for Morelia, Suazo added a second for Los Rayados in the 41st, taking a centering pass and slapping it inside the far post to make it 0-2 to Monterrey at the half.

Morelia did their best to climb back into the tie in the second half. Monterrey had surrendered a number of quality set piece chances, but just couldn't convert one. They did get their goal from the run of play in the 60th minute. Joel Huiqui took a gorgeous cross from Edgar Lugo and headed it into the back post to make it 1-2.

Had it stayed like that, Morelia might have felt better about their chances in the return leg. However, disaster struck in stoppage time. Monterrey sent in a shot in the 92nd minute, it was blocked but the ball ended up bouncing around in front of the goal mouth. Finally Abraham Carreno got a foot to it and tapped it in to give Monterrey the 1-3 win.

That will mean Morelia will have to score 3 goals at Monterrey and keep Suazo and company out of the net. I'm not real confident in their chances of accomplishing that.

Puddle's 2012 CCL Quarterfinal Preview

I want to point all of the Puddle's readers that are interested in MLS, Mexico Primera Division, and CONCACAF Champions League to an excellent article on FoxSoccer.com about the Mexican sides that will be participating in the last 8 of CCL. Eben Lehman does a great job hashing out the chances of each side. Check out the article HERE.


Also here's my take on the Quarter-Final matchups:


Morelia vs. Monterrey
The defending CCL Champs will probably be the underdog in this one. However, Humberto Suazo's in form return to the club should help bolster Monterrey and give them a better chance to defend their title. However, Morelia has been in great form and I'll give them the edge in this one. Might be tricky with the 2nd leg being at Monterrey though.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Santos Laguna
The advantage that Santos is going to have here is that they're in midseason form, and are playing pretty well. Seattle is just coming off the end of preseason. Plus the second leg is in Mexico. I look for Seattle to put a up a great fight, but come up short. They must NOT let Santos secure an away goal, that will be a key. If they can come out of the Clink with a clean sheet, they'll have a much better chance. I'll take Santos though.

Toronto FC vs. LA Galaxy
I look for Toronto to be much improved this year, and to sew up their first MLS playoff spot. However, I just don't see them overcoming the Galaxy here. Tough draw for them, especially with the second leg being in LA. I think TFC is leaps and bounds better than before, but the Galaxy are just too good for this matchup.

UNAM Pumas vs. Isidro Metapan
Remember when the Rapids said Metapan were the weakest team in that group? Oops. Metapan could be a sleeper here. Pumas have not been all that great in league play, and were less than stellar at times in the CCL group stage. The winner of this series gets either Morelia or Monterrey, so while I think Metapan will takes this, I think it will ultimately be the winner of Morelia/Monterrey in the final.

Mexico Match Thoughts: Morelia vs. Santos

I think I use the phrase, "a tale of two halves" way too much on this blog. In fact, I know I do. However there is really no other way to describe this match. The first half had chances and was entertaining. The second half was a foul fest and total mound of garbage.

Both teams came out of the gate quite quickly, and you would have thought Santos actually came to play. You'd be wrong though. Cristian Suarez hammered a ball over the bar in the 2nd minute, but in the end, it would be one of the few chances Santos would have all match long.

Morelia totally took over from there, They monopolized possession and chances, of which they created quite a few. It was actually pretty fun to watch, except for the fact that you got the impression that Santos was just a total shower, and they wished they were someplace else. Lazy marking, lazy passing, lazy defense, and Morelia took advantage.

The first goal came on 23 minutes as Edgar Lugo took a ball that almost went over the end line for a goal kick and passed it back into the area. It ended up at the feet of Miguel Sabah, who blasted it by the 'keeper to make it 1-0. Sabah was pretty much unmarked. Just two minutes later, Sabah, who was a beast all match long, struck again. This time he took a down field pass from Christian Valdez and beat a stunned Sanchez to score again and make it 2-0.

Finally Santos woke up for the first and only time in the match after going down 2-0. They got their only goal of the game in the 29th as Suarez put a centering pass into the area. It appeared to go off of the foot of Carlos Quintero and into the goal to make it 2-1. Later the announcers questioned that it might have come off of the Morelia defender, though as of the end of the match it was still credited to Quintero. At any rate the score at the half was 2-1.

Santos' lazy style became infectious in the second half. Both teams played an unspirited brand of football marked by hard, pointless fouls, crappy passing, and diving all over the pitch. Honestly, the quality of tackles from both sides made MLS look like Italy.

In the end, Morelia tacked on a late goal as Edgar Lugo scored on a break for Morelia in the first minute of stoppage time to make the full time result 3-1 to Morelia.

Mexico Match Blurb: Morelia vs. Monterrey

Another blurb will have to suffice for this match, as their just wasn't that much to report. Monterrey continues to disappoint a year on from winning the CONCACAF Champions League. I can't say as I feel for them, but that's just me as an RSL fan.

The first chances of the match actually went to Los Rayados, with Jesus De Nigris hitting a shot high in the 4th minute. Honestly, it was closer to row ZZZ than it was to the target though. In the 9th minute Angel Reyna had one of the better chances of the match, beating the 'keeper but knocking his shot off of the far post.

The best first chance for Morelia came in the 12th minute, but saw Joao Rojas' header go high of the mark. In the 42nd minute Jamie Lozano picked up a yellow that would come into play in the second half. The first half ended with the sides still level at 0-0.

Arguably the best chance of the match came not long after halftime for Morelia. Miguel Sabah had been a real bright spot for them, and in the 52nd minute he forced a nice save out of Jonathan Orozco to keep the match level. Unfortunately for Morelia, Jamie Lozano picked up his second yellow card in the 58th minute, earning him the red card and an early shower.

Still Monterrey, who is having a tough time scoring and dealing with some large off field issues, could not take advantage of the extra man. De Nigris came closest in the 66th minute, but again watched his shot sail just high of the crossbar. Humberto Suazo did not play, as he has expressed his desire to leave, and his absence really showed in Los Rayados rather tepid offensive showing. However, Morelia could not muster a goal either and the match finished 0-0.

Mexico Match Thoughts: Morelia vs. Tijuana

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.

CONCACAF Champions League: Monarcas Morelia vs. LA Galaxy

Remember when, just a couple weeks back, it looked like MLS had finally broken down the wall that kept them from getting regular results in Mexico? I mean, going back to last season, MLS had a three match unbeaten streak in Mexico. RSL drew Monterrey, Dallas beat PUMAS, and Seattle beat Monterrey. Well...not so fast my friend.

Morelia sits over 6,000 feet above sea level. After watching the Galaxy play here in SLC, I can tell you they don't like the altitude, and I think it was a factor late in this one. The real unfortunate thing for LA is, I think they played good enough for at least a point, but you don't always get what you deserve in soccer.

LA's strategy, minus David Beckham, looked to be sit back, absorb the pressure, and try to hit on the counter. Give them credit, it worked for about 3/4 of the match. Thing of it is, you have to be picture perfect to play that way and win. As I heard a couple of times during both CCL matches tonight, Mexican teams will kill you when you screw up. You're not playing Vancouver anymore.

The first half went scoreless. Morelia had most of the possession, but LA really did have the best chance. They had a free kick that was headed just into the crossbar. That goal would have come in handy later.

Morelia really turned up the heat in the second half. Josh Saunders came under heavy attack in the LA goal, but for the most part tonight, he played totally out of his mind, making some unbelievable stops. He also triggered the counter that led to LA's goal in the 52nd minute. After a nifty throw out, the ball ended up at the foot of Landon Donovan who effortlessly found Robbie Keane. The Irish international captain schooled the keeper and put it in the net to make it 0-1. A few minutes later, he about scored from beyond midfield. He saw Vilar out of goal and smacked it on target. Vilar got back and just managed to tip it over the bar.

After that it was all Morelia. In the 82nd minute Adrian Aldrete hit a scorcher that seemed to be right at Saunders. However the LA 'keeper couldn't hold it and it squirted under him, as he dove back for it, he carried it over the line and we were level at 1-1.

LA looked to take the lead in the 90th as Robbie Keane knocked in a goal off of a Donovan corner, but Keane was ruled offside. Replays suggest that this was an incorrect call. It came back to haunt LA in stoppage time as Miguel Sabah hit a first class header on a corner to give Morelia the 2-1 victory.

Mexican Match Suspended After Gunfire Heard Outside of Stadium

Unfortunately the violence and problems facing Mexico came home to roost on it's futbol league Saturday night. The match between Santos and Morelia, at Santos' home stadium in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico was suspended after about 40 minutes when the obvious sound of gunfire was heard in the stadium.

Below is the live video via Azteca of the incident. The players and officials run off the pitch and into the tunnel. A few minutes later, as the shots continue to be heard, fans start to storm the pitch, also seeking cover and running away from the sound of the shots.

Torreon and Coahuila officials said that gunmen attacked a public security vehicle outside the stadium. One police officer was injured in the gun fight, but there no injuries reported in the stadium itself. Officials did not say who the gunmen were.

The match was still 0-0 at the time of the suspension.

Mexican Match Thoughts: Morelia vs. Chivas de Guadalajara

I totally forgot to check my Soccer Score app this morning, so it came as a big but pleasant surprise that there was some live Mexico Apertura action tonight between Morelia and Chivas. It served as a nice appetizer for the main course of EPL tomorrow, and was a fantastic match to watch.

It was a match that could have, and really should have gone a different way than it did. In the end though, the quality won out.

In the early moments, Chivas had the lion's share of possession, and Morelia looked like they might still be shaking off the cobwebs of last week's late loss to Monterrey. The Goats created many chances early, but could not convert, either shooting balls into the stands or making easy saves.

After about 25 minutes though, Morelia finally showed up, and showed up big. They forced some chances in on Michel in goal for Chivas, and that finally got them some confidence. The match really opened up with both sides going up and down the pitch, but neither could convert anything and the half ended at 0-0.

In the second half, Morelia looked like they might try a possession game for a few minutes, but soon enough the match opened back up and the sparks started to fly. Morelia made their first big mistake in the 50th minute. Chivas was up on a counter and sent a rather harmless looking cross into the 18. Defender Yasser Anwar Corona Delgado went to clear, but it deflected off the outside of his leg and into the net for an own goal. Chivas led 0-1.

The mistake didn't keep Morelia down long though, as they pressed on with their attack. Their persistence paid off just a few minutes later. In the 52nd minute, Manso took a beautiful back heel pass in the Chivas 18 and banged it home far post for the equalizer. A gorgeous goal, and Michel didn't have a chance.

Then Chivas started to implode. They got hit with two pretty blatant red cards. The first came in the 56th minute when Magallon got the wrath of the ref for some studs up action. Then in the 70th Araujo made it even worse with a red for flying reckless tackle. It was 11 versus 9 for Morelia.

However, not only could Morelia not capitalize on the situation, they gave up another goal. Gallardo made a totally unmarked run into the Morelia 6 and just barely tapped a goal past the keeper to make it 1-2 to Chivas.

Morelia had several chances late, including several corners and free kicks, but they managed to screw every one of them up. More often than not, they didn't even trouble the Chivas goal. Chivas did dodge a bullet when a handball in the box went uncalled, but the ball came from his own teammate and was headed out of the box. Apparently that was enough to convince the ref to avoid handing Morelia a totally undeserved draw.

Mexico Match Thoughts: Monterrey vs. Morelia

In one of my earlier entries I explained that I was really trying to expand my footy horizons this year. Part of that is going to be paying a little closer attention to the Mexican league. I watched a few matches last season, but since my Spanish is more than rusty, I never paid really close attention unless the it was Cruz Azul or Monterrey, who wound up playing RSL in CONCACAF.

However, the more I've watched the more I understand, and hey, it's footy, so I'm really looking forward to taking in some more matches from south of the border this year. The first of these was Monterrey vs. Morelia.

One thing was crystal clear from the get go. Monterrey was the better side in all facets of the game. I mean hey, I saw these guys play live and beat RSL at home. Even Cruz Azul didn't manage that, so I have much respect for the CONCACAF Champs. They nearly grabbed the advantage early as well. Cardozo slotted home a goal in the 8th minute, but he was ruled offside. Replays were a little questionable, but we moved on. Offside would trouble Monterrey for most of the evening, as Cardozo and Humberto Suazo couldn't get their runs timed right.

Monterrey had a ton of possession in the first half, but really didn't have a lot of good, quality chances. In the 35th minute, they literally set up camp in the Morelia 18, but couldn't trigger a shot. Right before the half Suazo managed a nice looking strike, but it sailed just wide, ending the half at 0-0.

The second half was more of the same, except a little slower for most of it. Morelia looked desperate to claw into the match, but they had a hard time wrestling the ball away from Monterrey. They never really tested Orozco in goal.

Monterrey finally broke it open late, when Suazo helped his team capitalize on a Morelia turnover in the 84th minute. He slipped in, onside this time, and scored to make it 1-0 to Monterrey. Carreno added another in the 90th minute to ice it, the full time result being 2-0.

All in all a pretty fun match to watch and a hard earned win for Monterrey.