retired_roxysunny101

*Daz the Imp: Thanks a lot, and allow me to return the compliment on your San Marino story, great read.

July 2003

Kansas City

As we drift from the sky into the Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas, we note that we are a little tardy, the action has already started. Just before we drift over to join Zander Zitero in the presidential box mixing martini’s with the other Mexican dignitaries let us dwell upon the action as it seems, after only five minutes, things are at a fever pitch.

Zitero’s prize holding midfielder, Pavel Pardo, has just rather clumsily barged the Brazilian genius, Kaka, down inside the box, with the referee left with no choice other than to point to the spot. An entertaining game of handbags ensued, except for the fact Gerardo Torrado doesn’t play handbags - and he proceeded to punch Belletti in the face. Torrado rightly received his marching orders and trudged of the field only 6 minutes after he’d bounded on to it.

Even after all that Adriano showed the composure that will surely see the 21 year old Inter striker become one of the best hit men in the World by calmly slotting home the penalty.

We now move away from the Brazil team celebrating the goal; we drift away from pitch side and up towards the stands of the magnificent home of the Kansas City Chiefs; and we continue to drift along until we enter the presidential suite. We see lots of powerful, domineering men in finely cut suits laughing and joking over their criminally expensive drinks bought by money made by their criminally…. criminal deeds. There is an air of money and power and corruption in this room, I mean Zitero is a wealthy man, but he just doesn’t feel comfortable rolling in these circles - you would have to assume, as we look around the suite, that is why he is not here.

Our Zander has decided to go and hang with the riff-raff - his riff-raff. The constant stream of autograph hunters don’t bother him at all - better than watching the game, Mexico are being decimated, God only knows how it’s still 1-0. Zander’s just happy to be out of that room with those suits. That is no way to watch a football match.

This surrounding also makes Zander feel more comfortable with his own thoughts, and there have been plenty of those to process over the past few days, but, first and foremost in his mind has to be his side’s second half capitulation against Morelia. He is especially worried about the right hand side, in the short time he has been in charge Zander has realised his options in that area consist of: an inexperienced prospect and a one-trick pony. Granted, he signed the latter, but hell, it’s his first job. Mind you, as we read the man’s expressive body language again, his coy smile tells us he may have that area sorted by the time he flies back to Chicago to play Santos Laguna.

Ah yes, Santos Laguna. Another subject taking residence at the forefront of Zander’s thoughts. This match is now a must win match if America (MEX) are to hold any chance of making it into the Copa Libertadores 2004, and even as he looks at Rios warming the bench; Pardo giving away a penalty; and Blanco hardly touching the ball, he will be glad to have them all back. Poor Zitero, he’s supposed to be relaxing and he is regressing into work mode.

As we can see, Zander is finding out rapidly that management is a 24/7 occupation and in all honesty he wishes he could just fast-forward this exhibition of Brazilian dominance and get back to work.

Zander’s not doing himself justice though, because as we - safe in the knowledge we wont miss anything; as it finishes 1-0 - now travel back, in the blink of an eye to Chicago, to América’s training camp, we see the work Zander has done while he’s been away as we meet the cause of Zander’s coy smile.

Chicago

Francisco Javier Esteche. This Paraguayan (22 Caps) right (or central) midfielder has been signed for a measly 70K from Paraguayan giants Olimpia and becomes Zitero‘s 5th signing of the season. And as we see him write the final signature on the contract we can bet we will see him at some point in the proceedings against Santos Laguna.

No more supersonic travel across the USA for us. We’ll stay patiently right here in the windy city for a few days, as we await Zander Zitero’s first must win match as a manager against Santos Laguna.

retired_roxysunny101

July 2003

Before we enjoy today’s football feast let us delve, once more, into the mind of Zander Zitero and get, as we have done with everyone else in the squad, his view on his latest purchase.

Francisco Javier Esteche (AM RC) (Age 29 / Paraguayan: 22 Caps / 4 Goals): For £70,000 this man is a fantastic capture. He has all the attributes to be a massive success here as well as possessing wealth of experience at International and club level. Hopefully Esteche will play to his potential and I will never have to worry about the right wing of América (MEX) ever again. Best Attribute: Creativity

As we leave the cranial area of our subject, another side note of interest (although not related to today’s match) is that Sergio LaVolpe was sacked as manager of Mexico after the match against Brazil. Seems a little harsh but that’s life.

Speaking of ‘that’s life’, only a few weeks into his reign Zander Zitero has a must win match to contend with. Although one pleasing thing is that, as he looks at his eleven combatants, Pavel Pardo and captain (for the next 6 months) Cuauhtemoc Blanco are amongst them ready to face Santos Laguna - and they are big additions to the team.

As we drift, as we like to do, down the tunnel and on to the field it is noticeably empty in the Soldier field - only 6660 people in fact. Still the cheer as the teams are read out for “Number 20.… Francisco Esteche” is particularly audible (although Zander is slighty more worried about names like “Number 58... Jared Borgetti”, “Number 10.… Fabian Estay” or “Number 9.…. Sixto Peralta”).

Also audible is the cheer as the two teams make their way onto the field. After a 5-1 defeat to Monterrey for Santos Laguna, America (MEX) have to be the favourites for this encounter - but that is irrelevant, what it does mean is that both teams need a win; a draw will see them both eliminated. So the sparsely populated Soldier Field is anticipating an open encounter.


30/7/03

(PrePre Libertadores Phase, Group A) / Santos Laguna Vs América (MEX) / Soldier Field, Chicago

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - de la Cuesta, DR - Castro, DC - Luiz Carlos, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo, ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco (c ); SC - Romário, SC - Navia

With two of the best Mexican players in the World back in the side there is no doubt Zander Zitero expected a much improved performance from his team. From the very start America (MEX)’s attacking vigour is clear for everyone to see, much of the time attacking with 3 up front and two pushed on wide players, which created havoc for the much more cautious Santos Laguna side.

The pressure paid off after only eleven minutes when Chuy Mendoza did brilliantly to get to the bi-line and whip in a delicious ball onto the head of Reinaldo Navia, his header was well saved - although he really should have scored - but it was of no consequence as Blanco tapped home the rebound anyway to put América (MEX) 1-0 up in this must win match.

As we have seen in the previous two America (MEX) matches, when the men in yellow have went ahead they have suffered from tensing up, going defensive, and becoming encamped in their own half. This is clearly something Zitero has noticed and rectified. América, even after opening the scoring, continued to play as f they were chasing the breakthrough, and this prerogative paid dividends only four minutes later, again after great wing play. The Santos Laguna defence committed the cardinal sin and gave the crosser time and space, and Esteche delivered a wonderful cross right into the corridor of doubt between defence and goalkeeper; where Navia made connection with a brave diving header to bullet América into a two goal lead.

Even with the two goal lead América (MEX) showed no signs of settling back to defend, this was a team on a mission, and at that moment, the only team that was going to score a goal. It took until the half hour mark for the inevitable third to come for América, but it was a goal most definitely worth waiting for. It came through a wonderful triangle between the three forwards: with Blanco playing a nice ball in to Romário on the edge of the Santos Laguna box; Romário then played a beautiful ball with the outside of his foot which scythed through the brittle Santos Laguna back line; Navia, for his part, stayed onside nicely and latched on to the through ball before lashing the ball into the roof of the net like the natural born finisher he is.

Santos Laguna were now exhibiting the mannerisms of a boxer, leaning on the ropes, willing the bell to ring. Unfortunately for Santos Laguna the ‘bell’ was fifteen minutes away and a fourth before half time looked likely. Laguna actually nearly made it to half time, not quite though, for a moment of sheer brilliance denied them even that small victory. Blanco, dictating the play as usual had the ball about 25 yards out, looking for that decisive pass; nothing was on, however, so he decided to have a pop. As clean as you like, the ball flew off his left boot and curled into the corner of the net, giving the left hand post a little kiss as it went - leaving poor Lucchetti wondering what he’d done to deserve conceding 9 goals in a game and a half. Sheer, unfiltered brilliance by Blanco.

The second half - as you might expect - did not live up to the fireworks of the first half. Most noticeable was the fact Santos Laguna did not even make an attempt to make a fight of it, and because of that (and the apparent glaring chasm in ability) the match fizzed out into something of a bi brother taking the **** out of his little brother spectacle.

Great performance, but short odds on Senor Luis Fernando Tena (Santos Laguna coach) being the first manager in Mexico to get the sack methinks.

Santos Laguna 0 - 4 América (MEX) (Blanco 11, 45; Navia 15, 33)


Contrast the mood in the same dressing room to that against Morelia - amazing. Jubilation has replaced desolation; optimism is where pessimism once was. However, one man, ever down to earth is Zander Zitero, he is grounded in the knowledge that to have any chance of winning this group they have to beat a very handy looking Monterrey side who have won both their games and have 6 points. And even before that…………

Yes, before that, due to ludicrous scheduling, América (MEX) must travel back to Mexico City, play their first league game, before travelling back to Chicago to play Monterrey. Nonsense. Nevertheless let us take our leave of the dressing room and burn the image of all those celebrating footballers into our skulls, for in the World of football you never know when you’ll see that scene again.

Let us drift to the south, safe in the knowledge that when we next meet América (MEX) it will be in the exciting and euphoric setting of the opening day of the season in the Azteca, Mexico City.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

As we drift up one of the five roads that will take us to the magnificent Azteca Stadium it is worth taking a moment to bask in the atmosphere of the Opening day of the season. As we look around we witness a sea of yellow shirts, it seems every América (MEX) supporter has their colours on. We can also not many of them have names and numbers on the back; there are some ‘10 - Blanco’, a few ‘9 - Romário’ but the glaring majority of those replica shirt bear ‘10 - Zitero.

There is also the bustle of many stalls to notice. The smell of fresh, piping hot food comes our way, but we must ignore and drift on. We pass the match day programme stall, on the cover there is that old picture of Zander Zitero holding up his América (MEX) shirts with the number ten, and superimposed behind him are his 5 new signings, and the text roughly reads as ‘a New Beginning’.

As we drift closer to the stadium it is easy to see an example of how so many replica shirts got on so many backs, with a stall selling all sorts of replica shirts, you can get he three we mentioned, or a Mexico shirts with ‘10 - Zitero’ or a 1994 Brazil shirt with ‘9 - Romário’. There is also a cute Mexico shirt with the number 100 on the back, and where the name should be it says ‘next to’, and below the numbering it says Pardo, signifying how close 90 Caps Pavel Pardo is to the 100.

We could dwell amongst this carnival-like scene all day if we wished, but there is football afoot, and we must make our way into the stadium. We float into the ground the same way we did when we witnesses Zitero’s new signings, but this time instead of going straight to pitch side we take a different turn, and lo-and-behold we are in the América (MEX) dressing room.

It is a much more mellow atmosphere than Zitero’s first three games in charge, there are more nerves about because this is the first home game of a new era, and it is important to do well. Nevertheless Zander Zitero is up at the blackboard giving out clear, and concise instructions to the eleven starters, the same eleven that started against Santos Laguna. Players are going through rituals, some are laughing and joking, some are quiet in contemplation, some are talking to God, anything to make them feel comfortable before the imminent kick-off.

“……………number 45, José Julián de la Cuesta……………”

That is the last player to be read out, the teams will be coming out any minute, let us take our leave of this place and make our way on to the pitch.

As we emerge from the tunnel the scene is dazzling, there are 75,000 people here, it seems they are all wearing the yellow of América (MEX), there are flares are going of, there are drumbeats being created and there is a constant stream of chanting. As we reach the centre circle and look around us we can suddenly see why people played football before the prestige and financial rewards. This is a sport that evokes such 120% pure, unfiltered passion in this arena that any person with a heartbeat would want to be a part of it.

Last season the average attendance was around the 40,000 thousand mark, and over this season it may level off to that, but for now, as the teams make their way on to the pitch, in front of 75,000 fans let us simply enjoy the spectacle.


3/8/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #1) / América (MEX) Vs Atlas / Azteca, Mexico City

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo, ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco (c); SC - Romário, SC - Navia

One cannot help but be inspired by walking out to the sight of 75,000 people decked out in your teams colours, cheering for you, and willing with all their might for you to win. And there is no doubt that inspiration played some part in the start América (MEX) made to this game. A mix of inspiration, motivation, and tactical orders had made América come out of the block like a steam train, and a shot which whistled past the post after 34 seconds by Pavel Pardo set the tone for the opening exchanges of the encounter.

Astoundingly América (MEX) created another 3 chances before finally breaking the deadlock on 4 minutes. It came through a lovely pass by Blanco which gave Navia a couple of yards of space in the box; and still with a lot to do, Navia finished with aplomb, drilling the ball into the bottom corner to a deafening roar from the home faithful. The season had well and truly begun.

Even with the wonderful start made by the home side it was clear that Atlas would put up more of a fight than Santos Laguna had done in Chicago. A couple of handy efforts from distance made it clear that this would not be an easy 90 minutes. In fact for the 5 minutes after the goal it looked like Atlas were a good bet the get back on level terms - until a moment of complete and utter madness.

Atlas defender Omar Blanco played a simple ball back to his goalkeeper, a bit too much pace, but still containable. The Atlas keeper, one of the best one keepers in Mexico incidentally, José de Jesús Corona took a wild swing at the ball and somehow - and this is a talent in itself - managed to slice the ball behind himself and into the net. Truly unbelievable and now América had a two goal lead when the smart money would have been on a 1-1.

Rather understandably that goal rather took the wind out of Atlas’ sails, I mean after such a promising response to the first goal such a fluke second must have been shattering. Hence, when the third came against the disheartened Atlas it was no surprise, although it was a cracker nonetheless. A dubious foul on Romário had given América a free kick about 25 yards out, although there were many candidates the home debutant Esteche stepped up and curled a majestic free kick over the wall and into the net.

The Azteca was bouncing. This opening 22 minutes of the season had been beyond their wildest dreams, and it has to be said, the score line most certainly flattered the home side. Not that anyone was complaining. The first half wound down to half time with both sides seemingly happy to trade long distance efforts until the half time whistle.

The second half saw Atlas do what Santos Laguna did not - come out and go for the jugular. And for this reason the second half was an exciting affair. Atlas came out with 4 up front and for long periods pinned back the hosts; but lady luck was most definitely smiling on Zitero’s side as Peruvian legend Roberto Palacios amazingly hit the bar twice in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

Things just weren’t going Atlas’ way and they were getting desperate, throwing more and more men up front, and so it was no real surprise when América caught them on the counter attack. After an Atlas corner a long kick from Becerra found the three América forwards 3 on 2 with two despairing Atlas players; Blanco and Romário worked the ball beautifully to give Navia the chance and he did not dissapoint, firing home with his usual emphatic swing of the right foot to give the home side an undeserved and unassailable 4-0 lead.

Atlas, to their credit, kept pushing and got their reward only five minutes later when Carlos Maria Morales took advantage of some lax marking to get his head onto a Palacios corner to cut the deficit.

América were becoming sloppy and were letting runs go unchecked, and giving away chances. This lead to an inevitable second goal for Atlas. It came after Morales was played through by Gerardo Torres; Morales, clean through, was cynically chopped down by Becerra who somehow stayed on the field; only to be beaten by the ensuing penalty by the excellent Palacios.

With a whiff of an astounding draw in their nostrils Atlas went absolutely gung-ho for the last ten minutes; but the América defence, with a wake up call from those two goals, stood firm; in fact, in injury time America got another goal on the counter attack. With literally everybody other than Corona in the América box for a corner all Romário had to do was to wait in his own half (where, of course you cannot be off side) for Becerra to pluck one out the air. Becerra did, and launched the ball to Romário who - after something resemble a 50 yard shootout - slotted the ball into the net. Romário’s usual exuberant celebration saw him whip off his shirt to reveal a T-Shirt with the slogan, roughly translated as, ‘who’s laughing now PMLF?’.

América (MEX) (Navia 4, 66; Corona o.g 10; Esteche 22; Romário 90) 5 - 2 Atlas (Morales 76; Palacios pen 80)


The opening day at the Azteca could not have gone much better, we note while looking at the smiling faces in the home dressing room, and now, as much as the travel is irritating and disruptive, Zitero’s side can travel to Chicago in confident mood to face the excellent Monterrey side who won their first game of the season 3-0 away from home.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

After such an emphatic victory, however fortuitous it was at points, the last thing Zander Zitero or his América (MEX) squad wanted was a trip back to Chicago. Nevertheless the match against the form team in Mexico - Monterrey is a vital fixture, and a must win fixture if América (MEX) are to harbour any Copa Libertadores dreams for 2004.

However, before we fast-forward to that decisive day in Chicago let us dwell over the desk of Zander Zitero, in his Azteca office and take note of his further transfer activity. These dealings, however, are not incoming, these transfer dealings will take players away from the Azteca - although the majority of these dealings are only for loan periods. One deal that is permanent is Carlos Infante’s move to fellow Mexican First Division side Querétaro for 100K; following the arrivals of Luiz Carlos and José Julián de la Cuesta, Infante has been rendered an obsolete tool and so the £100,000 received for the left back will be seen as good business.

Other pieces of paperwork on the bosses desk tell us that Zander Zitero has had to fight hard to keep a hold of Pavel Pardo - rejecting bids up to £3,000,000 from teams like Bordeaux, Southampton, Lyon and Heerenveen for the inspirational defensive midfielder.

People who are on their way before leaving for Chicago are four loan moves away from the Azteca for a season. Three of these names will not be familiar to the reader, although Zitero is hoping that the loan spells and consequential first team football will turn Daniel Molina, Manuel Saldana, and Jonathan Rosas into names that will roll off the tongue as easily as Blanco and Pardo as our tale progresses. Also farmed out on loan is - as we remember, not the managers favourite - Juan Mosqueda, it remains to be seen what the future holds for that young man.

With the transfer window now well and truly shut on our needy little fingers we can now turn our attention to América (MEX)'s continuing campaign to make it into the biggest competition of them all, the Copa Libertadores.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

Chicago

Ah, here we are, back in the windy city, Chicago, Illinois. And as much as we, and the manager, and the players would love this match to be in a stadium in Mexico where the stadium would be bouncing with a capacity support of die hard fans you can’t change the rules.

The opposition, Monterrey, as we have said several times already look to be one of the best sides in Mexico this season. Their three results from the three competitive fixture they have played read: 5-1, 2-0, and 3-0. So, without wanting to overdo the whole ‘underdog’ vibe, América (MEX) will have a tough time tonight.

Before drifting into the stadium to witness this match let us take a look at how this group stands - bearing in mind that only the winners will progress to the next stage of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores 2004:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Monterrey | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 6 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | América (MEX) | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 3 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Morelia | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Santos Laguna | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

With us now fully aware of the task ahead of América (MEX): knowing that only a 2-Goal or more win see them progress, let us drift into the Soldier Arena just in time for kick-off.


6/8/03

(PrePree Libertadores Phase, Group A, Final Fixture!) / América (MEX) Vs Monterrey / Soldier Field, Chicago

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo, ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco (c); SC - Romário, SC - Navia

Even in front of a measly 10,000 people - most of which with no idea as to the significance of this fixture - it was clear to see that the players were aware of what an important game this was. In the first ten minutes Monterrey produced the best chance with a great cross by Jesús Arellano finding the head of Alex Fernandes; unfortunately for Monterrery the Brazilian could only head the ball into the grateful arms of Becerra.

The tension continued as the clock ticked on, with it becoming evermore clear that the opening goal would be vital. Hence, when it finally came Zander Zitero was delighted it came from an América player. Romário to be precise; the Romário strike came from a lovely counter attack involving Martinez and Blanco, culminating in a great cross for the diminuitive Romário to head home and claim his second goal for the Mexico City giants.

It is fair to say that Monterrey were suffering from knowing that even a 1-0 defeat would see them through; they were playing like a team that did not know whether to play-to-win or defend and take a 1-0 defeat. Even considering this fact the match was by no means one way traffic and Guillermo Franco of Monterrey especially was causing all sorts of problems. All in all, approaching half time, this was still a tense, even match, and nobody could imagine what was to come in the next five minutes.

Just five minutes before the half-time whistle América (MEX) doubled their lead through captain Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Again - as has been such a feature so far this season - the front players linked up superbly with Navia playing a quick pass to Romário who slid the ball into Blanco, timing his run into the box to perfection, and rounding the goalkeeper with hypothermic coolness to put América (MEX) into a score line that would see them win the group.

Monterrey seemed shaken by the sudden realisation the were no longer in pole position in the group, and all of a sudden they went rather too attacking and became rather dishevelled and unorganised in defence when they should have been holding on for half time. Monterrey paid the price for their premature state of panic just three minutes later, as Navia made a great run - unchecked - and was found by a World class 40 yard cross field pass by Pardo; The Chilean hit man, one on one with the keeper, made no mistake by slotting the ball past Ricardo Martinez from 10 yards to put América (MEX) into a remarkable 3 goal first half lead.

Yet, that was not the end of the torment for an otherwise good Monterrey side who had lost their way in the latter stages of the second half. Right on the stroke of half time Esteche whipped in a great corner straight onto Navia’s head (and it is hard to even hazard a guess who was supposed to be marking him; there was no-one in his vicinity).Navia, to his credit, made no mistake in powering his free header emphatically into the top corner.

Teams, Managers, Supporters and Impartial observers are united in disbelief as to how América (MEX) can be leading 4-0 at half time of a match that was so even for so long.

The second half saw complete monopolisation of the attacking play by Monterrey as they chased 3 goals. However the half time period had obviously been used by Zander Zitero to organise defensively and for that reason the team in Yellow proved very hard to break down.

Again, as in the first half, Franco was the main threat for Monterrey and any shots that made it through the yellow wall usually came from the Number 10. However those efforts were usually saved by the excellent Becerra.

In the end Monterrey could not get even 1 goal back and América (MEX) claimed an amazingly flattering 4-0 win. To give you an idea of just how flattering - Becerra won man of the match. Nevertheless, in the end the only thing that really matters is that America (MEX) will leave Chicago with their hopes of participating in Copa Libertadores 2004 very much alive.

América (MEX) (Romário 17; Blanco 40; Navia 43, 45) 4 - 0 Monterrey


Before we head back to Mexico, let us see how the group stands after that remarkable 90 Minutes.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | América (MEX) | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Monterrey | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 6 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Morelia | | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Santos Laguna | | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 1 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

Incedentaly, the winner of Group B of this PrePre Libertadores Phase were Tigres, who - with both teams on 6 points going into the last game - defeated Toluca 2-0. So Tigres will accompany América (MEX) to the next phase of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores.

But let us, as hard as it is, put the race to participate in this fine competition to the back of our mind as we must now travel back to Mexico as the domestic calender is now preparing to get in to full swing.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

Upon returning from Chicago - still in with every chance of participating in Copa Libertadores 2004 - morale was very high in the América (MEX) camp. It maybe an incredibly tedious cliché but: if you had offered this start to Zander Zitero a couple of weeks ago he would have taken it gladly.

Despite América (MEX)’s excellent start it must be remembered that in football you are only as good as you’re last result, and everything that has been good about the season will suddenly pale into insignificance if América (MEX) fail to keep up their good form against Tigres in a few days time.

However, before we concentrate on that league fixture, as we again loiter in the Managers office, we can see that interest in Pavel Pardo has reached fever pitch and Zander Zitero has decided to stop it once and for all. After a particularly derisory offer of £2,200,000 plus Goran Bunjecevic from Tottenham boss Jaques Santini, Zaner Zitero has decided to offer Pavel Pardo a new contract that will see him at América (MEX) until 2008; this contract will also see Pardo’s wage rise from 3,000 per week to 14,000 per week If Pardo accepts this contract - Zitero hopes - that should end all the speculation.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

First of all, before we dash headlong into the evenings football, let us rest safe in the knowledge that Pavel Pardo happily accepted a new deal so - barring Roman Abramovich deciding he fancies a little Mexican destroyer - Pardo will be an América (MEX) player for the foreseeable future.

It is ironic that after so much concentration on the PrePre Libertadores Qualifying Phase, we now face the other team that made it to the next stage of qualifying. Not only that - and this is not ironic, just scary - they made it by winning all three games in their group, so they will provide a really tough task for the high flying América (MEX) side.

This fixture represents our first - Mexican based - away match of the season, and thus provides a new test for the inexperienced América (MEX) manager. Although, as we pass the away dressing room, we can see that the set up of the team is the same as it would be if this match was being played at the Azteca. Time would tell whether this was clever, brave, or naïve.

With that thought in our minds let us drift down the tunnel to the pitch side and set the scene which the players will soon run out to. 36,000 people, all decked out with their Tigre kits have packed into Tigre’s home ground for their first home game of the new campaign, there is a spectacular tefo display with yellow and blue streaks stretching over two tiers, there are flare which are omitting visually stunning streaks of yellow and blue smoke, and we are not even mentioning the sheer noise - and this is a crowd who will accept nothing other than a home win. And as the two teams emerge from the tunnel the realisation of the task in hand must have been hitting Las Águilas.


10/3/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #2)/ Tigres Vs América (MEX) / Estadio Universitario de Nueva León, Monterrey

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | América (MEX) | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 3 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Tigres | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo, ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco (c); SC - Romário, SC - Navia

In the majority of the games this season involving América (MEX), they have been the team to come out and set the tone of the match and create the early chances. However, this was their first away match and the pattern was turning out very differently. All the early pressure in this encounter was coming from Tigre’s and América (MEX) were being forced on to the back foot.

It was clear that being under the cosh is not a role América (MEX) are comfortable with and it took only 5 minutes for the host’s to open their home account for the season. A nicely worked move saw Walter Gaitan get some space on the left hand side; the former Boca man proceeded to whip in a great ball for Jesús Olalde to head home.

In a strange way that goal may have been a good thing for América (MEX) because Tigre’s calmed their pressure slightly and it gave América time to regroup - time they evidentially used well, as by the quarter hour mark the had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot. He decision itself was slightly dubious, with it being given for a push in the box on Navia; something that goes on all the time, but technically is a foul. Young de la Cuesta stepped up to face the penalty, the goalkeeper, and the home crowd. José Julián de la Cuesta blasted the ball to the keepers right hand side, however Campagnuolo guessed right and parried it…. straight back to the young Colombian who tapped the ball, with relief written all over his face, into the empty net to make it 1-1.

The next event in the match really was really the catalyst for everything that was to occur in the next 60 minutes. Right on the half hour mark José Antonio Castro decided that it would be a real hoot to throw an elbow at Walter Gaitan - who had been destroying him on the left by the way - and he was rightly sent off. Gaitan (a.k.a Lazarus) managed to get to his feet straight after Castro received his marching orders, when moments earlier he was ready to be carted off to the Morgue and the family were picking flower arrangements.

The sending off meant Zitero had to play one up front (Navia) and replace Romário with Salinas. The one up front situation became ever more of a handicap just moments later when - and let’s hear it for his 181 Caps folks - Claudio Suarez rose highest to head home a Saavedra corner and send the home crowd (already pumped up after the sending off) into delirium.

Just two minutes after Suarez’s header the match was put out of América’s reach as an Irenio through ball split open the brittle América (MEX) defence; and Andres Silvera latched onto it to fire the ball past the shell-shocked Becerra.

Poor Becerra was to get a lot more shell-shocked in the five minutes before half time as the América (MEX) defence descended into chaos and conceded two more goals. Firstly, on 40 minutes, Walter Gaitan’s first half tormenting of the América (MEX) culminated in a sweet strike from the edge of the area that found it’s way to the bottom corner, past a despairing Becerra. And then, right on the stroke of half time, Silvera grabbed his brace; rising ahead of de la Cuesta to head home from another Saavedra corner. In the second half América (MEX) would be playing for their decimated pride.

Over the half-time break Zitero made his final two changes: Patino for Chuy Mendoza and young Christian Zepeda for the isolated and ineffective Navia.

It is fair to say that América (MEX) have been the team to watch this season if you want to see good, attacking football, however they paid for their attacking-or-bust style in this game and were now trying to salvage some dignity from the wreckage of this fixture. In truth, against the backdrop of a taunting home crowd in celebration mode it was very difficult for Zitero’s men to rally themselves; although they did manage a consolation in injury time, with Christian Zepeda taking advantage of sloppy marking to steal a few yards in the box; Blanco found him with a neat ball in and the young man made no mistake in claiming his first senior goal for the club. Always a silver lining.

Tigres (Olalde 5; Suarez 30; Silvera 32, 45; Gaitan 40) 5 - 2 América (MEX) (de la Cuesta 15; Zepeda 90)

Only a few weeks into Zander Zitero’s reign and we have already witnessed two 5-2 scorelines; it seems his managerial career will be as exciting as his fleeting playing career. Mind you let’s not dwell to long in this place, otherwise we may be dragged down by the depression enveloping the away dressing room.

We, on the other hand can see the bigger picture: A good young player made a good impact and it was an even match until a moment of crass stupidity. We will now travel to Veracruz ahead of América (MEX)’s next fixture, and hopefully when we next rejoin Zander Zitero’s team they will exhibit the same confidence that we, the reader, still retain.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

There was really no other word for América (MEX)’s mutilation against Tigres other than - Devastating. However, the old football adage goes that the best thing to get over a crushing defeat is another match in close proximity If that is truly the case then América (MEX) are in luck, because just three days after the Mauling in Monterrey they line-up for some weekday football.

It is fair to say that América (MEX) would have preferred to be back at the Azteca as they try to recover their league form, but nevertheless an away game against Veracruz is what the calendar has thrown up, and it is what América (MEX) must now contend with, albeit without the idiotic Castro, who‘s place will be taken by Angel Gonzalez, against the team who sit third in the table, having won both matches and not conceded a goal.

As we drift over the Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuentes we can see that Veracruz’s good start to the season has captured the public’s imagination, with over 33,000 people crammed into the simplistic, square arena. And that crowd is just about at fever pitch, with the two teams taking the field and kick-off fast approaching.


13/8/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #3)/ Veracruz Vs América (MEX) / Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuentes, Veracruz

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Veracruz | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | América (MEX) | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Gonzalez, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo, ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco (c); SC - Romário, SC - Navia

After such an emphatic defeat at the hands of Tigre’s it is no surprise that América (MEX) came out the more cautious of the two sides; and to their credit it worked, with the first quarter of this match being very dull indeed, with both sides trading yellow cards and the odd long range effort; of which Archie (?) Flores of Veracruz came closest.

On the half hour mark América (MEX) created their best chance after an Esteche cross caused a scramble in the Veracruz area, the ball popped out to Pardo; who crashed the ball off the top of the bar and out from the edge of the penalty area.

On the stroke of half time all of América (MEX)’s good work was almost undone as a piece of slack marking - again - at a corner saw the big Veracruz centre-back, Joel Sanchez, given a free header 6 yards out; his header somehow thundered off the post and bounced to safety, leaving a very relieved América side to happily head inside for the break.

At half time, with Reinaldo Navia having another poor game, Zander Zitero decided, in the name of fairness, to give Christian Zepeda the chance he had earned in his fleeting appearance in the last game. The next 45 minutes would tell how he would fare in a match where everything is still to play for.

The second half begun with Veracruz very much in the ascendancy, especially with Matute Morales proving a real handful from midfield - and forcing 2 quality saves from Becerra in the first 5 minutes of the second half. Another chance came and went for Veracruz as a hopeful long ball was not cleared properly and the awkwardly bouncing ball gave Walter Jimenez a chance from the edge of the area, but his half volley flew wide of the post.

After 20 minutes of Veracruz dominance Christian Zepeda finally got his chance to take the spotlight, as Blanco played a delicious reverse through ball to the 18 year old just inside the box; Zepeda held off some grasps at his shirt to get a shot off, which went straight into the arms of Damián Grosso. But remarkably the referee showed amazing courage in pulling the play back for a tug on Zepeda’s shirt. It was a remarkably brave decision and it gave América (MEX) a vital chance to break the deadlock. José Julián de la Cuesta stepped up again, the man who, technically, missed his last penalty, and with a swing of his left foot he banished those memories and sent Grosso the wrong way to give América (MEX) an invaluable lead.

América (MEX) seemed to gather confidence and momentum from that opener and only 4 minutes later they managed to double their lead through Romário. Esteche played a beautiful ball up the right wing to after a great run made by Zepeda; Zepeda, in turn, done well to reach the bi-line; and his hanging cross was headed towards goal by the surprisingly towering figure of Blanco, and when his header was parried, Romário showed his predatory instincts to make it 2-0.

Things were falling apart for the home side and things only got worse when the inspirational Matute Morales - already on a booking - was sent off after petulantly kicking the ball away. As Morales trudged down the tunnel, all of Veracruz’s hopes of a comeback went with him. For the last ten minutes the match was something of a non-event - to the delight of Zander Zitero who now had a very, very respectable away win under his belt.

Veracruz 0 - 2 América (MEX) (de la Cuesta pen 67; Romário 72)

retired_roxysunny101

Noctember 3456

Zander Zitero wasn’t quite sure how he got to where he was at this moment in time, he wasn’t even sure where he was; but where ever it was it had a bad vibe about it... nothing to worry about though - just the dark, and the rain, and the full moon. Zander, in a state of understandable confusion, attempts to get his bearings; he was in some sort of park, a massive park in the dead of night. The moon was painting him and the surrounding area a disturbing shade of white; around him, all Zander sees, are gravestones. After managing to adjust his eyesight, Zander can see that there are gravestones as far as he can see - he is in a graveyard.

Zander continues, not letting the fact he has no idea how he got into this graveyard slow him down. Our Zander is being drawn to one tombstone, it is strange - the combination of the moon and the trees manage to create an illusion by way the this tombstone is circled by a ring of light. It is not even the ring of light which tells Zander to makes his way towards the tombstone; there is just something in his heart that tells him he must see this tombstone, this apparently generic 1 of 1000 tombstone.

As Zander approaches the beckoning tombstone he sees a single dead lily; so thin and brittle that it was almost invisible. Soon Zander’s focus had been taken from the lily to the tombstone itself; and the tombstone, after beckoning Zander Zitero this far, proceeded to stab an icy dagger into his heart and bring him to his knees:

“Here lies Aleksander Zitero.
Thief, Drug Dealer, Delinquent.
Scourge of Mexico.
Disgrace to the proud name of Zitero”

At this moment - shaking, with the warm tears streaming down his face the only thing stopping him from turning into a block of ice - Zander Zitero heard cackling, it had been in this place all along, but before it was distant - now it was right behind him. Zander - a petrified wreck - slowly turned round; Zander, who was still on his knees facing the Earth, slowly brought his eyes up to meet the figures before him.

The figures before him do not have names, they can hardly even be described. They were…. things; they had the bodies of human’s, but the head’s of vultures, smiling vultures; smiling, laughing vultures. And in their human hands they carried Dictaphones and notepads and pencils; mobile phones - just ready for that big story - were visible in their jacket pockets; jackets which were clothing their human bodies. Nevertheless, the heads gave them away - vultures they were. One of which was beginning to speak to him as he rose tentatively to his feet.

In a high pitch squawk one of the things stated concisely “get in” and nodded his head in almost comical fashion to the area behind Zander; Zander turned around in horror, the grave where he was kneeling moments earlier was now a gaping, welcoming hole in the ground just waiting for him. “Get in” one of the creatures squawked more impatiently. “No, oh God, no, please” Zander pleaded, but it was no use, and as he turned round to face the creatures once more, he saw - through the distortion of his tears - that an axe had materialised in one of the creatures hands; and without giving Zander a chance to speak it planted the axe into his chest cavity. A small mercy would have been for Zander to die immediately, but no, Zander felt, with horrifying consciousness, himself stumbling backwards and falling into the open grave.

As Zander lay, on his back in his open grave he felt the shadow of one of the creatures cast over him, preparing to finish the job. The creature raised the axe well above his vulture-head, uttered the words “it’s your legacy” and threw the axe with the force of a thousand men down the 6 feet where it split Zander Zitero’s skull in two like a watermelon.


Zander Zitero woke up with a scream, we can presume that was axe splitting his skull open. Oh yes, papi’s got issues - Zander had the Tombstone / Vultures / Legacy dream again, it is a recurring one, although it never does get any more pleasant. It seems there will be many-a ghost to exorcise before this tale has run it‘s course.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

Zander had been up since about 4 a.m. In all honesty he was glad it was a match day, there is nothing worse than having a whole empty day to ponder over the blindingly obvious meaning of his dreams; at least today he could continue his quest to banish them forever.

After the thoroughly respectable win over Veracruz three days ago, América (MEX) were back on track in the league - and better than that, today they were back at the Azteca. A stadium which Zander Zitero has no doubts will prove to be an absolute fortress over the seasons to come. The visitors to Fortress Azteca today would be Atlante - who were without a win, a point, or a goal prior to kick-off.

Mind you, from the moment he entered the office today there were signs that this match would not be the piece of cake it perhaps seemed on paper. This morning, the ever-enigmatic genius (quickly place your bets; Romário or Blanco) - Cuauhtémoc Blanco decided to make an appearance in the office of Mr Zander Zitero; where he decided to air his concerns that the club may be forced to sell their best players; despite being told that would not happen as the club did not need the money, Blanco - clearly influenced by the ‘Pardo’s offski’ media - made it clear that he has told his agent to find him another club; a more ‘suitable club to join‘, which no doubt meant he fancied one big pay day in Europe before he calls it a day. Typical.

Time would tell if Blanco was just making an idle threat or genuinely on the verge of leaving América (MEX). Although he was right that some players would be moving on, but they will be different players, and for another reason entirely, which we shall go into some other time. For now, however, we must make haste to the Azteca to see if - and if so, how badly - the Blanco situation effects the performance of the team.


17/8/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #4)/ América (MEX) Vs Atlante / Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 7th | | América (MEX) | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 6 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 20th | | Atlante | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>


America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo (c), ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco; SC - Romário, SC - Navia

As you would expect after two extremely tough games on the road, the América (MEX) team looked very happy to be back on home soil; with them doing the attacking from the first whistle, charging like a bull towards the terrified eyes of the oppositions defence looking for that early goal.

And we will never see the ‘petrified defence’ in effect more than this match against confidence-deficient Atlante. Sheer terror can really be the only logical explanation for the fact that hobbit-like Romário managed to ‘tower’ above a defender on the 5th minute from a Mendoza cross to give América the most blatantly inevitable lead in the history of world football (other than maybe that Sneijder opener against Scotland at the ArenA).

Atlante did well to hold out for another 15 minutes as the wall of highly inept footballers held firm. However, unbelievably Romário, with another header popped up to double the lead. No towering this time though; just good ol’ fashion incompetent marking from a cross allowing the Brazilian (and possibly América (MEX) after this match is finished) legend to nod home at the back post.

The rest of the second half would have been respectable for Atlante, if not for two facts: they failed to get a single shot; they got two men sent off. Nothing malicious though, just similar - in keeping with Atlante’s performance - rather clumsy, oafish second bookings for both Edgar Solano and Abdalá Bucaram.

The second half, with the already very poor Atlante down to nine men, was expected to turn into something of a massacre; and with the tens of thousands of América (MEX) fans baying for blood and giving a metaphorical Roman thumbs-down the men a yellow went a head with the kill.

On the 49th minute, even the resident ****-stirring ex-captain got in on the act; after getting to the bi-line beautifully, Esteche cut a cute ball back to Judas, who slotted the ball into the corner from around the penalty spot - no doubt impressing any scouts in the crowd ready to offer him the 30 pieces of silver he so craves.

Just 5 minutes later the evergreen Romário claimed his first hat trick in an América (MEX) shirt; A lovely through ball by loyal captain Pavel Pardo splitting open the utterly disheartened Atlante defence for Romário to latch onto and slip past Rafael Cuevas who was beginning to wonder what the point was.

Keeping up momentum when 4-0 up is a tough task so after Romário’s hat trick the game went through an understandable phase of hibernation for 20 minutes - in which period Atlante still never managed a shot - before giving the fans a final show. That final show was started by the man who had been the undoubted star of the show throughout - Romário; who again latched on to a through ball, this time played by that No 10 guy, before skilfully taking the ball to one side of the keeper and firing the ball into the consequential gaping hole.

Reinaldo Navia - a notable under performer in the two games away from the Azteca - got the goal that should see him back on the goal trail to finish up the scoring on 80 minutes; after he was the only one that attacked a nicely whipped in ball from Chuy Mendoza to power the ball home from - an impressive distance for a header - 15 yards.

América (MEX) (Rómario 5, 20, 54, 78; Blanco 49; Navia 80) 6 - 0 Atlante


Despite the fact it was against a very poor looking Atlante side, you can’t really argue with a 6-0 win. And nobody in the buzzing América (MEX) dressing room was trying to at this moment in time. Nothing chases the bad dreams away better than a thumping victory that re-affirms you’re belief that you’ll get where you want to be going. Oh yes, Zander would sleep well tonight.

……… Or maybe not. It’s just Mexico has these really tight rules on foreign players, and América (MEX) has a lot so Zander has to kind of have a clearout, and figure out who to……… oh well, no rest for the wicked, eh Zand.