Telefutura, you're my only friend. Bigs ups to the local Spanish speaking network for beaming Chivas and Houston live into my home last night (and a special thanks to the dancing monster selling Toyota Siena's during the game, over the entire screen). After falling behind, the Goats fought back and came away with a game tying goal that got me out of my seat, thrusting my baby up into the air in celebration. The Super Liga group test finished 1-1, getting Chivas a point, and keeping dim hope alive to get out of the group.
It was another early goal allowed, in the 6th minute, that put El Rebaño on the comeback trail. A mad rush by the Orange Crush got behind the Red & White defenders, and Dominic Oduro slid a perfect pass across the box to a streaking Lovel Palmer. Palmer buried the shot into the net, beating Gaucho Dan Kennedy to put the home side up. Does giving up early goals have something to do with Bornstein bringing the US National flavor on board? He actually went out after a hard foul in the 24th, but hopefuly he's all good.
It was a long wait, with a lot of pushing forward, but it finally paid off in the 71st minute. Chivas earned a corner, and it was Rodolfo Espinoza lining up to send it in. He sent the scoring corner in the last Super Liga game that Umaña tallied, and was ready to make magic happen again. Espinoza curled his kick from the corner, and waiting with the perfect header was an unmarked Jesus Padilla. El Gringo put head to the ball with perfection to draw the game up. It really was a thing of beauty, as was the celebration with me and my son. The game played out with a couple of more minor chances, one leading to a thrilling save by Kennedy to keep us square, but ended at ones. One point per team, at least gives us a chance to move forward...possibly.
We're going to need some big help. Our group looks like this:
Puebla (6 points; +3 GD)
Houston (4 points; +1 GD)
Chivas (1 point; -1 GD)
Pachuca (0 points; -3 GD)
So, Pachuca is officially out of the running with their loss to Puebla, and we're still barely in it. On the positive, out last game is against the worst team in the group. On the negative, we would need Puebla to beat Houston and to beat them prettt severely, while we beat Pachuca by at least 2 goals. That seems to be our path to advancing. Puebla has shown some stuff so far, and hopefully they can continue, but we need to own Pachuca to get through. Meanwhile, Group B is rolling like this:
New England (6 points; +2 GD)
Morelia (4 points; +4 GD)
UNAM (1 point; -1 GD)
Chicago (0 points; -5 GD)
A fairly similar story in the table, outside of that amazing 5-1 Morelia win over Chicago mucking up the goal differential. UNAM finished against Chicago and has a slim chance, but it's unlikely that NE will beat Morelia enough to erase that goal differential.
Checking back on my predictions of who is coming out of the groups, I'm shooting 50/50 so far. I called Puebla and Chivas. Puebla is a lock, and Chivas has an outside shot. I also called Morelia and Chicago. Morelia is a lock, but I sure picked the wrong MLS team out of Group B!
Let's take a look back at how the lineup rolled in the draw with the Orange, and look forward to Wednesday's final group match with Pachuca:
G- Dan Kennedy: The goal was something he couldn't have stopped, and he made some pretty impressive saves throughout, three bigs one altogether. He is filling in as a #1 for our injured ZTB.
D- Carlos Borja, Umaña, Darios Delgado, and Ante Jazic: It was nice to see OC boy Borja getting some time, although he was replaced by Trujillo in the 79th. I was glad to see us go back to the 4-4-2, but do you notice that Bornstein isn't on the list of defenders, despite making the starting eleven? Hang on...
M- Lahoud, Saragosa, Gavin, and Espinoza: Zemanski replaced a slightly injured Gavin in the 78th, but other than that, this was a solid middle line. Lahoud and Saragosa made some chance, and Rodolfo Espinoza has very quickly made himself a fan favorite around these parts. Two huge assists in two Super Liga games? If he carries this over, he'll be the king on the pitch for the Goat faithful. Question: What happened to Paulo Nagamura?
F- Bornstein and Maldo-gol: Um, what? Why is Born Identity playing striker? Everyone's favorite half Jewish half Mexican Los Al High grad has played the mid before, but starting a Super Liga match at striker? Did Maldonado have something against Braun from their first outing together? Well, Borns subbed out in the 24th after taking a hard foul, Jesus Padilla came in and evetually scored the game tying goal. Maldo-gol was out in force, making something out of nothing, but San Jose's El Gringo was the hero up front in this one.
So, a mixed up lineup gives is a draw, and now we need a big win against Pachuca to have a chance. What do we roll with?
G- Kennedy: Obviously, B's favorite player will be back between the pipes.
D- Bornstein, Trujillo, Cuesta, and Umaña: Let's go back to the classics, Umaña nailed a goal in the Puebla game, so he deserves to play, and the Trujth is a stud. Bring Borns back to his usual slot, please.
M- Espinoza, Gavin, Nagamura, and Zemanski: I might digress from some Chivas supporters here, but I've always liked the action that Gavin and Zemanski put together. They are both Akron alumni, they are former roommates, and they know each other like the Sedin twins. I know it leaves Lahoud, J's favorite player, out, but I want to see what they can do. If Naga is hurt, and they just aren't telling us, then I want Padilla to fall back and play in the middle so he's out there for a full 90. It's hard, because I'd also like Romero out there.
F- Braun and Maldonado: You've got to get Braunie back out there, and I don't see Chivas sititng Maldo. Of course, this leaves Chuk Wagon and my boy Galindo on the outs, but that's who it's going to be. However, how long does Maldonado start before the pressure is on to create some more havoc? Five MLS games, is what I'm saying.
So, El Rebaño gets their final shot at advancing on Wednesday, as they match up with Pachuca at the HDC (again, on Telefutura). With Puebla and Houston going before us, we'll know what we have to do, so let's hope for the best. Now excuse me as I go on my pre game pump up rant:
"Se trata de un juego debe ganar, y Chivas no decepcionará. Giancarlo finalmente puntuación. Kennedy se quedará con la hoja limpia. El Rebaño se celebran la victoria y Chivas avanzará. Van las Chivas santa. ¡Hasta la victoria siempre!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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