Funny - even though this is a bit old. Becks and Temoc are hanging out, with Blanco controlling the remote.
Showing posts with label InterLiga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label InterLiga. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Last thought on InterLiga
Before I forget, here's a link to the story I wrote about Saturday's America-Cruz Azul game. I wrote it for today's Press-Enterprise.
I pondered here the other night how great of a game that was and how it would rank among the games I've covered. I think it will go down as the best game I've covered at Home Depot Center. It tops the Galaxy-Pachuca game, which before Saturday was number one on that list.
I think number 118 on that list was the Galaxy-DC United game on June 2 of last year, the boring 0-0 draw between the two teams. Number 119 was Chivas USA-Osasuna in March of 2005, another boring game.
I pondered here the other night how great of a game that was and how it would rank among the games I've covered. I think it will go down as the best game I've covered at Home Depot Center. It tops the Galaxy-Pachuca game, which before Saturday was number one on that list.
I think number 118 on that list was the Galaxy-DC United game on June 2 of last year, the boring 0-0 draw between the two teams. Number 119 was Chivas USA-Osasuna in March of 2005, another boring game.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Partidazo
It's 1 a.m. Do you know where your blogger is?
Right here at HDC. I think I'm the last one in the press box. It feels like it's about 10 p.m. with all the noise in the press box and in the stands still... clean-up crews are going strong.
This stadium was the site of one of the most dramatic games to ever unfold here at Home Depot Center. America and Cruz Azul played to a 3-3 draw that saw both timely goals, disputed plays and dramatic moments. America prevailed after taking the shootout by 5-3.
The action on the field was only outdone by the atmosphere in the stands. It's not often that we see drama and energy and pure electricity reach the levels we saw on Saturday. There have been large crowds here before; the Galaxy-Real Madrid and Galaxy-Chelsea crowds were comparable in size but this crowd dwarfed those in terms of pure emotion and electricity. America fans literally stopped cheering for a combined 60 seconds. Even after Cruz Azul goals, the America faithful was going strong and urging their team along.
America coach Daniel Brailovsky credited the fans for helping bolster his team's will and fighting spirit.
I'll get back to you later, once this all settles in, and let you know where I rank this in terms of great matches I've covered. I can't imagine it won't be in my top five.
Right here at HDC. I think I'm the last one in the press box. It feels like it's about 10 p.m. with all the noise in the press box and in the stands still... clean-up crews are going strong.
This stadium was the site of one of the most dramatic games to ever unfold here at Home Depot Center. America and Cruz Azul played to a 3-3 draw that saw both timely goals, disputed plays and dramatic moments. America prevailed after taking the shootout by 5-3.
The action on the field was only outdone by the atmosphere in the stands. It's not often that we see drama and energy and pure electricity reach the levels we saw on Saturday. There have been large crowds here before; the Galaxy-Real Madrid and Galaxy-Chelsea crowds were comparable in size but this crowd dwarfed those in terms of pure emotion and electricity. America fans literally stopped cheering for a combined 60 seconds. Even after Cruz Azul goals, the America faithful was going strong and urging their team along.
America coach Daniel Brailovsky credited the fans for helping bolster his team's will and fighting spirit.
I'll get back to you later, once this all settles in, and let you know where I rank this in terms of great matches I've covered. I can't imagine it won't be in my top five.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Elite matchup
I'm here at Home Depot Center settling in with a warm cup of joe waiting for the start of Atlas-San Luis. Scott French ditched me so I've got to write both match reports and match features for tonight's doubleheader... okay, well, truth be told Scott is in Florida for the combine and is spending the week out on the East Coast for the combine and draft.
So while we wait for the start of the doubleheader, which sold out well before the start of today's games, I'm thinking that we will be hard pressed to see a matchup quite like America-Cruz Azul here at Home Depot Center this year. Combined America and Cruz Azul have won 18 domestic titles, count on World Cup stars past, present and future and each has legions of supporters.
It's not a friendly as well, which makes the game much more interesting. Hopefully it lives up to the hype.
So while we wait for the start of the doubleheader, which sold out well before the start of today's games, I'm thinking that we will be hard pressed to see a matchup quite like America-Cruz Azul here at Home Depot Center this year. Combined America and Cruz Azul have won 18 domestic titles, count on World Cup stars past, present and future and each has legions of supporters.
It's not a friendly as well, which makes the game much more interesting. Hopefully it lives up to the hype.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Interested after all
It's difficult to tell which of the participating Mexican clubs really care about InterLiga. By the squad they sent, it was obvious that Pumas didn't. On the contrary, Atlas officials were hugging each other, cheering and pumping their fists in the air after they won the coin toss to allow them to play on Saturday, so that led me to believe that they do care about InterLiga.
I would have put Monterrey in the first category, as a team that didn't really care about the tourney. They didn't look very good and their results were, yet again, lousy.
Turns out, they may have cared more about it than i had thought. Monterrey fired coach Isaac Mizrahi days after they bowed out of InterLiga.
It seems like a strange move. Mizrahi was brought in midway through last season and had just begun preparations for the Clausura 2008 season. Monterrey brought in Robert De Pinho and Jared Borgetti and Mizrahi was seemingly confident about their prospects for the season.
Now, he's gone. Maybe Monterrey cared more about InterLiga than I thought.
I would have put Monterrey in the first category, as a team that didn't really care about the tourney. They didn't look very good and their results were, yet again, lousy.
Turns out, they may have cared more about it than i had thought. Monterrey fired coach Isaac Mizrahi days after they bowed out of InterLiga.
It seems like a strange move. Mizrahi was brought in midway through last season and had just begun preparations for the Clausura 2008 season. Monterrey brought in Robert De Pinho and Jared Borgetti and Mizrahi was seemingly confident about their prospects for the season.
Now, he's gone. Maybe Monterrey cared more about InterLiga than I thought.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Looking for change
After the America-Atlas match on Wednesday, I happened to take the same elevator down to the bowels of Home Depot Center with some high-ranking FMF officials. Decio De Maria, secretary general of the FMF, and Guillermo Cantu, who oversees all the national teams, along with press chief Mauricio Zavala, were among the 10 or 12 people in the elevator with me. They were going down to administer the coin flip, the final tiebreaker that would determine if Atlas or Toluca would go through to Saturday's final.
De Maria needed a coin, but he told his colleagues that he didn't have any change. Zavala reached into his pockets and pulled out a quarter.
"No, not one of those," De Maria said. "I need a Mexican coin."
Cantu had no change, Mexican or otherwise. Another person on the elevator pulled out a handful of Mexican pesos and De Maria wound up with a five-peso coin, which later Bruno Marioni called correctly as Atlas won the coin flip and advanced to Saturday's finals that way.
De Maria needed a coin, but he told his colleagues that he didn't have any change. Zavala reached into his pockets and pulled out a quarter.
"No, not one of those," De Maria said. "I need a Mexican coin."
Cantu had no change, Mexican or otherwise. Another person on the elevator pulled out a handful of Mexican pesos and De Maria wound up with a five-peso coin, which later Bruno Marioni called correctly as Atlas won the coin flip and advanced to Saturday's finals that way.
Clasico Joven
I think it would have been better had America played San Luis and Cruz Azul to play Atlas. Then at least you'd have a chance of America and Cruz Azul joining Chivas in Libertadores, and that's a formidable field.
As it stands, we get quite a treat on Saturday as America will play rivals Cruz Azul in the Clasico Joven at Home Depot Center. We've gotten to see the Clascio Regiomontano at HDC and now this. A colleague asked which is the second-best Mexican clasico behind America-Chivas and I told him the Monterrey-Tigres one is a pretty heated rivalry but it's more a regional one. There were hardly any Monterrey and/or Tigres fans when those two teams met out here in 2006, as it was all Chivas colors in the stands that day. America-Cruz Azul, Chivas-Atlas, America-Pumas, you can't go wrong with those ones. And yes, even though those teams are from the same city, it's not necessarily a regional rivalry because those clubs transcend their locales.
As it stands, we get quite a treat on Saturday as America will play rivals Cruz Azul in the Clasico Joven at Home Depot Center. We've gotten to see the Clascio Regiomontano at HDC and now this. A colleague asked which is the second-best Mexican clasico behind America-Chivas and I told him the Monterrey-Tigres one is a pretty heated rivalry but it's more a regional one. There were hardly any Monterrey and/or Tigres fans when those two teams met out here in 2006, as it was all Chivas colors in the stands that day. America-Cruz Azul, Chivas-Atlas, America-Pumas, you can't go wrong with those ones. And yes, even though those teams are from the same city, it's not necessarily a regional rivalry because those clubs transcend their locales.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Cold, chilly night
Thanks to a freeway closure on the 91 West, I missed the entire first half of the Toluca-Morelia match. A 2-hour drive coupled with a cold night and a downed internet connection in the press box to boot made me wonder why even bother with this tournmanet.
But then I look out in the stands and see all the yellow-clad America fans and, well, that's why. As popular as Cruz Azul and Pumas are, this tournament feeds off of America and Chivas. Those clubs draw the fans, and until fewer than 10,000 show up to watch America, this tournament is going to continue on full force.
There is a nice section of Atlas fans here and by nice I mean they're jumping up and down in the 61st minute of the first game. Pumas had a similar section last night. I see some red Toluca gear in the stands and a few Morelia shirts but the overwhelming majority of fans here are wearing America's colors.
But then I look out in the stands and see all the yellow-clad America fans and, well, that's why. As popular as Cruz Azul and Pumas are, this tournament feeds off of America and Chivas. Those clubs draw the fans, and until fewer than 10,000 show up to watch America, this tournament is going to continue on full force.
There is a nice section of Atlas fans here and by nice I mean they're jumping up and down in the 61st minute of the first game. Pumas had a similar section last night. I see some red Toluca gear in the stands and a few Morelia shirts but the overwhelming majority of fans here are wearing America's colors.
Saturday's finals
Over the five years InterLiga has been held, there haven't been too many matchups pitting giants against giants. No Chivas-America. No America-Pumas. No America-Cruz Azul.
We did get the clasico regiomontano here in Carson a few years ago but that, to me that doesn't stir the same emotions as el superclasico.
That changed last night when Cruz Azul played Pumas. It's not a clasico per se but it's a matchup of Mexican giants.
We might get another one on Saturday. If America beats or ties Atlas tonight, we'll get treated to America-Cruz Azul on Saturday, el clasico joven. I'm pretty excited at the prospect to be honest. I was hoping to get either America-Cruz Azul or America-Pumas but once last night's game started I knew that America-Cruz Azul would probably generate a better atmosphere since the majority of the 9,000-plus last night wore blue.
However, that would be the best possible matchup but would it be the best thing for Mexican soccer? If America and Cruz Azul played, one team would go on to Libertadores and the door would be open for San Luis or Atlas to get another spot. San Luis doesn't exactly have a lot of tradition while Atlas was downright pathetic last year.
There's no guarantee that Cruz Azul or America would do better than San Luis or Atlas. Though history is on their side, Cruz Azul and America could both struggle in Libertadores. But I do think both sides would get out of the group stage. I think San Luis could as well but I think Atlas would struggle.
If the chips fall the way i think they will, we'll get America-Cruz Azul on Saturday. But it could also lead to the worst team from last season (Atlas) going on to carry the country's flag in South America.
We did get the clasico regiomontano here in Carson a few years ago but that, to me that doesn't stir the same emotions as el superclasico.
That changed last night when Cruz Azul played Pumas. It's not a clasico per se but it's a matchup of Mexican giants.
We might get another one on Saturday. If America beats or ties Atlas tonight, we'll get treated to America-Cruz Azul on Saturday, el clasico joven. I'm pretty excited at the prospect to be honest. I was hoping to get either America-Cruz Azul or America-Pumas but once last night's game started I knew that America-Cruz Azul would probably generate a better atmosphere since the majority of the 9,000-plus last night wore blue.
However, that would be the best possible matchup but would it be the best thing for Mexican soccer? If America and Cruz Azul played, one team would go on to Libertadores and the door would be open for San Luis or Atlas to get another spot. San Luis doesn't exactly have a lot of tradition while Atlas was downright pathetic last year.
There's no guarantee that Cruz Azul or America would do better than San Luis or Atlas. Though history is on their side, Cruz Azul and America could both struggle in Libertadores. But I do think both sides would get out of the group stage. I think San Luis could as well but I think Atlas would struggle.
If the chips fall the way i think they will, we'll get America-Cruz Azul on Saturday. But it could also lead to the worst team from last season (Atlas) going on to carry the country's flag in South America.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Second string
I had the chance to go out to Home Depot Center yesterday for the first time in a while. I was hoping to hit up the USMNT camp but Pumas UNAM was my first priority, and it took forever to talk to them. By the time I was done there, the US was probably back at their hotel.
Anyway, this Pumas is Pumas in name only. All their players worth a damn are back in Mexico. There are some decent players here and some good prospects but this team is Pumas in spirit only. Some of the reporters were joking around and saying that they'd have to ask players to tell us their names and positions before interviewing them.
The way it worked out, all the players pretty much made a dash from field to the bus at about the same time. Most of us reporters out there talked to Marco Antonio Palacios, Ismael Iniguez and Tuca Ferreti. This is what I got for the PE.
Quite a few fans turned out yesterday, so many that security had to put up a mini-barricade to allow the players room to move from the field (which was gated) to the bus. Most players, from what I saw, stopped to sign autographs even if the fans didn't know who they were. The last person to go into the bus was Tuca Ferreti who stopped to sign nothing. The fans were none too pleased and let him have it briefly before the bus left.
Anyway, this Pumas is Pumas in name only. All their players worth a damn are back in Mexico. There are some decent players here and some good prospects but this team is Pumas in spirit only. Some of the reporters were joking around and saying that they'd have to ask players to tell us their names and positions before interviewing them.
The way it worked out, all the players pretty much made a dash from field to the bus at about the same time. Most of us reporters out there talked to Marco Antonio Palacios, Ismael Iniguez and Tuca Ferreti. This is what I got for the PE.
Quite a few fans turned out yesterday, so many that security had to put up a mini-barricade to allow the players room to move from the field (which was gated) to the bus. Most players, from what I saw, stopped to sign autographs even if the fans didn't know who they were. The last person to go into the bus was Tuca Ferreti who stopped to sign nothing. The fans were none too pleased and let him have it briefly before the bus left.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Nothing going
Four games into InterLiga and we're still waiting for some drama.
Thursday's scores: Atlas 0, Toluca 0; America 1, Morelia 0.
Through four games, we've had three goals and one of those was a penalty.
Not sure what the turnout was in Houston tonight but the weather was somewhere in the 30s. I hope the fans that go to this weekend's games in Texas and next week's games here at HDC get a bit more bang for their buck.
Thursday's scores: Atlas 0, Toluca 0; America 1, Morelia 0.
Through four games, we've had three goals and one of those was a penalty.
Not sure what the turnout was in Houston tonight but the weather was somewhere in the 30s. I hope the fans that go to this weekend's games in Texas and next week's games here at HDC get a bit more bang for their buck.
First impressions
InterLiga is back.
That didn't exactly stir emotion among Dallas-area soccer fans. Only 8,504 showed up to watch the first doubleheader on Wednesday at Pizza Hut Park, a low number when you consider that the third and fourth most popular Mexican teams (Pumas, Cruz Azul) participated.
The games, incidentally, were each 1-0 finals as Pumas beat Monterrey and San Luis beat Cruz Azul.
Let me see... cold weather, low-scoring preseason games, gotta work the next morning... okay, I think I figured out why attendance didn't crack 10,000.
That didn't exactly stir emotion among Dallas-area soccer fans. Only 8,504 showed up to watch the first doubleheader on Wednesday at Pizza Hut Park, a low number when you consider that the third and fourth most popular Mexican teams (Pumas, Cruz Azul) participated.
The games, incidentally, were each 1-0 finals as Pumas beat Monterrey and San Luis beat Cruz Azul.
Let me see... cold weather, low-scoring preseason games, gotta work the next morning... okay, I think I figured out why attendance didn't crack 10,000.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
InterLiga for PE
I took a somewhat broad look at InterLiga for my Press-Enterprise readers today. This tournament can be confusing to the casual soccer fan so I thought I'd point out some of the reasons why people around here (Inland SoCal) should follow this tourney. After all, three doubleheaders of this tournament will be played within driving distance.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
InterLiga officials
Let the complaining begin!
The officials were announced for each game of InterLiga save the finals. Every year, it seems as if participating teams always find things to complain about and complaints about the officiating are often at the top of the list. To the participating teams, all of these officials will be no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing officials (okay, sorry there, got carried away Holes-style). Really, the officials are in a no-win situation. Some of these officials are decent MLS refs, some are terrible but to the Mexican teams an MLS ref is seemingly a terrible referee, regardless of who he is.
I will say that I hope the Cruz Azul-Pumas game here at HDC is not one that the official has a hand in deciding. That's the match (and the ref) that scares me.
Here are the details, straight from the press release.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Group B: Monterrey vs. Pumas (19:00) – Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas)Referee – Ricardo Salazar
Group B: Cruz Azul vs. San Luis (21:30) – Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas) Referee– Baldomero Toledo
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Group A: Toluca vs. Atlas (19:00) – Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas)Referee– Terry W. Vaughn
Group A: Morelia vs. América (21:30) – Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas) Referee– Arkadiusz Prus
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Group B: Cruz Azul vs. Monterrey (19:00) – Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas) Referee- Jorge Gonzalez
Group B: San Luis vs Pumas (21:30) - Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas)Referee – Jair Marrufo
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Group A: Club América vs. Toluca (16:00) – Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas)Referee – Kevin Stott
Group A: Atlas vs. Morelia (18:30) - Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas)Referee – Mark Geiger
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Group B: Monterrey vs. San Luis (18:00) - The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)Referee– Abiodun Okulaja
Group B: Pumas vs. Cruz Azul (20:15) - The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)Referee – Michael Kennedy
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Group A: Toluca vs. Morelia (18:00) - The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)Referee – Tim Weyland
Group A: Atlas vs. Club América (20:15) – The Home Depot Center (Carson, California) Referee – Brian Hall
The officials were announced for each game of InterLiga save the finals. Every year, it seems as if participating teams always find things to complain about and complaints about the officiating are often at the top of the list. To the participating teams, all of these officials will be no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing officials (okay, sorry there, got carried away Holes-style). Really, the officials are in a no-win situation. Some of these officials are decent MLS refs, some are terrible but to the Mexican teams an MLS ref is seemingly a terrible referee, regardless of who he is.
I will say that I hope the Cruz Azul-Pumas game here at HDC is not one that the official has a hand in deciding. That's the match (and the ref) that scares me.
Here are the details, straight from the press release.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Group B: Monterrey vs. Pumas (19:00) – Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas)Referee – Ricardo Salazar
Group B: Cruz Azul vs. San Luis (21:30) – Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas) Referee– Baldomero Toledo
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Group A: Toluca vs. Atlas (19:00) – Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas)Referee– Terry W. Vaughn
Group A: Morelia vs. América (21:30) – Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas) Referee– Arkadiusz Prus
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Group B: Cruz Azul vs. Monterrey (19:00) – Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas) Referee- Jorge Gonzalez
Group B: San Luis vs Pumas (21:30) - Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas)Referee – Jair Marrufo
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Group A: Club América vs. Toluca (16:00) – Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas)Referee – Kevin Stott
Group A: Atlas vs. Morelia (18:30) - Pizza Hut Park (Dallas, Texas)Referee – Mark Geiger
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Group B: Monterrey vs. San Luis (18:00) - The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)Referee– Abiodun Okulaja
Group B: Pumas vs. Cruz Azul (20:15) - The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)Referee – Michael Kennedy
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Group A: Toluca vs. Morelia (18:00) - The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)Referee – Tim Weyland
Group A: Atlas vs. Club América (20:15) – The Home Depot Center (Carson, California) Referee – Brian Hall
Friday, November 30, 2007
Perfect Pumas
When the InterLiga calendar came out, I was excited that Pumas UNAM would finally be a part of the tournament. Since I began covering the tournament in 2005, Pumas hasn't been a part of the field because of their league results, both good and bad.
Now, though, they may again evade InterLiga once again. Pumas destroyed Santos by 3-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their semifinal series. Pumas need only to avoid a three-goal loss to advance to the finals, where they'd face the Chivas-Atlante survivor.
Pumas upset Toluca in the quarterfinals with a win-at-home-tie-on-the-road formula that they'll try to follow up with on Sunday in Torreon. Pumas, though, wasn't content with settling for just a win. They wanted to take care of business at home, which they did.
All season long, Pumas hasn't been one of the flashier clubs. They certainly weren't as flashy as Santos or Toluca but now they are poised to return to the final for the first time since Hugo Sanchez guided Pumas to consecutive league titles in 2004.
Pumas, incidentally, would qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup by winning the Mexican league and thus would be ineligible to participate in Copa Libertadores, for which InterLiga serves as a qualifying tournament. No Libertadores, no InterLiga. Nimodo.
Now, though, they may again evade InterLiga once again. Pumas destroyed Santos by 3-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their semifinal series. Pumas need only to avoid a three-goal loss to advance to the finals, where they'd face the Chivas-Atlante survivor.
Pumas upset Toluca in the quarterfinals with a win-at-home-tie-on-the-road formula that they'll try to follow up with on Sunday in Torreon. Pumas, though, wasn't content with settling for just a win. They wanted to take care of business at home, which they did.
All season long, Pumas hasn't been one of the flashier clubs. They certainly weren't as flashy as Santos or Toluca but now they are poised to return to the final for the first time since Hugo Sanchez guided Pumas to consecutive league titles in 2004.
Pumas, incidentally, would qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup by winning the Mexican league and thus would be ineligible to participate in Copa Libertadores, for which InterLiga serves as a qualifying tournament. No Libertadores, no InterLiga. Nimodo.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Otra doble jornada
So much for the Bay Area InterLiga matches.
The two Northern California matchdays were moved to Texas and SoCal respectively.
As far as my neck of the woods goes, we'll get InterLiga doubleheaders on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 as well as the finals on Jan. 12.
On the 8th - the matches originally slated for NoCal - we'll see Monterrey and San Luis and Pumas take on Cruz Azul. It's okay to show up late but do get there for the start of Pumas-Cruz Azul. That's quite an attractive matchup.
Then on the 9th we'll get Morelia-Toluca followed by America-Atlas. Please show up on time for this day.
The finals will be on the 12th and with any luck we'll get either America-Pumas or America-Cruz Azul. Of course, Cruz Azul commonly tanks in this tournament so the former matchup is more likely.
I know many of the players don't care much for InterLiga and some think it's a silly tournament but if I wasn't covering these games, I'd probably buy tickets for them even though I don't support any of those teams.
The two Northern California matchdays were moved to Texas and SoCal respectively.
As far as my neck of the woods goes, we'll get InterLiga doubleheaders on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 as well as the finals on Jan. 12.
On the 8th - the matches originally slated for NoCal - we'll see Monterrey and San Luis and Pumas take on Cruz Azul. It's okay to show up late but do get there for the start of Pumas-Cruz Azul. That's quite an attractive matchup.
Then on the 9th we'll get Morelia-Toluca followed by America-Atlas. Please show up on time for this day.
The finals will be on the 12th and with any luck we'll get either America-Pumas or America-Cruz Azul. Of course, Cruz Azul commonly tanks in this tournament so the former matchup is more likely.
I know many of the players don't care much for InterLiga and some think it's a silly tournament but if I wasn't covering these games, I'd probably buy tickets for them even though I don't support any of those teams.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Interliga announcement
InterLiga™ 2008, the fifth edition of the tournament that determines two berths for Mexican clubs to the prestigious Copa Libertadores, will be held between Wednesday, January 2 and Saturday, January 12, 2008, with stops in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The eight teams participating in InterLiga 2008 earned berths based on their combined record in the 2006 Apertura and 2007 Clausura seasons of the Mexican domestic league. The eight squads are: Group A – América, Atlas, Toluca, Morelia;Group B – Cruz Azul, Pumas, Monterrey, San Luis.If any of the participating eight teams becomes champion of the current 2007 Apertura season, to be crowned the weekend of December 8, that club will be replaced by Atlante. The champion of the 2007 Apertura is required to participate in the 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup. While InterLiga™ 2008 will determine two Mexican club births for Copa Libertadores known as “Mexico 2” and “Mexico 3”, the other spot, known as “Mexico 1,” has been determined according to the regulations set forth by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol. Given Pachuca’s required participation in the 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup due to its status as the champions of Mexico’s 2007 Clausura, CD Guadalajara, the 2006 Apertura champions, have been selected as “Mexico 1” and will participate in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. Schedule In its fifth anniversary, InterLiga will kick off on Wednesday, Jan. 2 in Frisco, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, with a Group B doubleheader, highlighted by a duel between InterLiga™ veterans Cruz Azul and newcomers San Luis (matches start at 7 p.m. local). Group A action hits Frisco on Sunday, Jan. 6 including a match up between Mexican powers América and Toluca (matches start at 4 p.m. local). InterLiga will return to the Bay Area for the first time since 2005, beginning Thursday, Jan. 3 with Group A action starting at 6:30 p.m. (local time). Less than a week later, Group B clubs will be featured in a doubleheader on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. (local time). The Bay Area venue will be announced in the coming weeks. For the second consecutive year, InterLiga™ returns to Houston’s Roberston Stadium for a Group B doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 5 featuring Cruz Azul against Monterrey as well a match between San Luis and Pumas (matches starting at 7 p.m. local time). Group A teams will close out the group phase on Wednesday, Jan. 9 in Carson, California including a match between América and Atlas, Mexican League playoff opponents during the last two seasons (matches starting at 6 p.m. local). The InterLiga™ 2008 finals will then take place on Saturday, Jan. 12 at The Home Depot Center, site of the finals in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Match times and order of the games will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Who can name the guys in the photo? Take a wild guess even if you don't know.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
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