It was there – for both teams – and neither grabbed the gold the ring. Not that the 0-0 result was a surprise – at least not to me – I predicted the goose eggs (roscas) last week. It’s not often that I actually get something right. So let me have this one cuz lord knows when I’ll ever hit another one.
If Chivas’ and America’s stalemate proved anything, it’s that they haven’t been playing well, and both will have to get it going in a hurry if they want to fulfill their liguilla aspirations.
Of the two, Chivas will have a much tougher hill to negotiate. Which makes their somewhat defensive posture all the more puzzling. This was a game they had to have because the schedule makers have laced their last month with the league’s top teams: Toluca, Santos, Cruz Azul, and Monterrey. 3 of the 4 are also the league leaders in goals.
So the tapatios are going to have to generate the goals that have been sparse all season long. It also doesn’t help that Monterrey and Santos are in Chivas’ group, so an automatic spot is likely out of reach.
Club America’s path is much more accessible, and they can make a giant move if they can defeat their group leaders, San Luis, midweek. Games with Winnable games against Atalnte, Estudiantes follow with the season ender against cross-town rivals Pumas. That derby game could very well decide which of the two get to keep playing, which gets to make plans for that deep-sea fishing trip in Huatulco.
Even though the Mexico City club has been struggling as of late, they have plenty of players who can find the back of the net. It’s the putting it all together aspect that has been missing. America should make the post-season easily. And knowing how volatile Mexican Liguilla’s can be, America’s season just might be getting started.