January 2004
As January arrives so does those points in players contracts where there is six months left and they can be pinched; yes, folks, in the lead up to the friendly against Chicago Fire Zander Zitero’s mind has been in a different place altogether, as he looks to sign up some Bosman’s to bolster his squad for the 2004/2005 campaign. The former Mexico international has offered contracts to the Chivas duo
Oswaldo Sanchez and Juan Francisco Palencia. Zander Zitero also made an audacious contracts offer to prolific striker
José Cardozo, although he faces stiff competition from the English Premiership, with Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Birmingham all interested in the striker who boasts 192 goals in ten years in Mexico.
Claudio Suarez was also a player interesting Zander Zitero, but the Mexican legend has decided to call it a day at the end of the season so he is not a viable target; and never has the necessity for the squad depth Zander Zitero is trying to achieve been more clear than right now, because as 2003 clicked over to 2004
Diego Encarnación and
Jair Garcia both picked up injuries that will keep them out until the end of February. Leaving de Nigris and Navia as the only fit strikers Zander Zitero would trust to go out and win a game.
Other than those two crocks, and the long term absentee that is Duilio Davino, Zander Zitero had a full compliment of players to choose from, and with the Closing Stage only one week away pretty much the full strength eleven, including new left-back Wederson, was expected to emerge from the tunnel in front of a decent 10,000 attendance at the Estadio Azteca.
3/1/04
(Friendly) /
América (MEX) Vs Chicago Fire /
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
América (MEX):
GK - Becerra, DL - Wederson, DR - Castro, DC - Rojas, DC - de la Cuesta; DMC - Pardo (c), ML - Mendoza, MR - Azuara, AMC - Blanco; SC - de Nigris, SC - Navia
The general consensus amongst most observers was that this match should be a good one; two capable sides, both playing with no inhibitions given the fact it is only a friendly were expected to put on a decent show.
Those opinions were 100% correct, as from the very first whistle both side went for the jugular, with the game swinging from end to end. De Nigris, Navia, Blanco, Steve Clark and Chris Robles all having half decent chances to break the deadlock in a gripping opening period.
Given the teams’ shared perogative on this match parity was never likely to last very long, and this proved to be the case, although most people’s mony would have been on Zander Zitero’s side to het the goal. Instead it was Chicago Fire who took the lead; with DaMarcus Beasley swinging in a good cross from the left which was duely dispatched into the net by the head of Chicago Fire’s generically named striker Steve Clark.
This gave Chicago Fire more confidence, and seemed to take América (MEX) by surprise, we can only assume that some of Zander Zitero’s stars were not expecting such a stringent test against the MLS side. The test was made even harder for América (MEX) when the pressure Chicago Fire had enjoyed proceeding their opening goal culminated in a second goal. This time the goal came through attacking midfielder Chris Robles, who made a sharp run into the box, and was spotted and played in smartly by Justin Mapp; Robles proceeded to calmly slot the ball past Alberto Becerra.
Despite those goals in quick succession, the game lost none of it’s edge, and continued to be a thoroughly watchable affair, and one in which you still felt América (MEX) had a chance of prevailing in. This feeling was reinforced five minutes after Chicago Fire took their 2 goal lead; as a surging run by Chuy Mendoza saw him successfully get to the bye-line, in truth he dragged his cross along the ground, but luckily it found Cuauhtémoc Blanco making a late arrival into the box to stroke the ball masterfully past Joe Suarez.
Next up - in what was turning out to be just about the most entertaining mid-season friendly you’re likely to see - was an equaliser for América (MEX) just a couple of minutes after Blanco had stroked them back into the game. It came through Reinaldo Navia, as he rose highest, as the big Chilean so often does, to get a clean header on an Azuara corner to level the scores only 7 minutes after Chicago Fire had established a 2 goal lead.
If the teams were to continue at the pace they had started the game then there is a good chance there would be some more crocks up in the Azteca medical room, so after a furious 25 minutes the intensity of the game died down somewhat, although some chances were created - mainly by América (MEX) - and Antonio de Nigris should have got his first goal for the club approaching half time when he headed from point blank range straight into the arms of Joe Suarez.
With the Closing Stage Championship fast approaching Zander Zitero was using this match as a serious warm up, and that fact was reflected in the lack of action at half time regarding substitutes, with the same eleven players emerging from the dressing room as had gone in.
This continuity paid of only 5 minutes into the second half when Cuauhtémoc Blanco picked up the ball near the edge of the box. Blanco, with no-one stepping out, took a couple of measured steps forward before sending a left footed effort arrowing into the bottom corner of Joe Suarez’s net. You see that’s the great thing about playing Blanco in the hole, no-one knows how to go about tracking him, and he gets the license to roam and use his passing and shooting abilities to full effect; he will no doubt contnue to be a big player in the coming months.
American striker Steve Clark had done himself no harm with his performance in this outing at the Azteca, proving a constant threat, and he had a golden opportunity to level the scores at 3-3 when he lost Ricardo Rojas and was played clean through by DaMarcus Beasley; but when faced by Alberto Becerra Clark could only rather tamely shoot wide. And with the game opening up in the closing stages it was a miss he could be made to rue.
That was indeed the case, as with 13 minutes left on the referee’s watch Chicago Fire gave away a free kick about 25 yards out. The contenders were numerous, but in the end Juan Manuel Azuara managed to get hold of the ball, and he did not dissapoint anyone as he endeavoured to curl a fantastic postage stamp free kick straight into the top corner of the net to round off an excellent comeback for the team, and an excellent couple of games for Azuara.
América (MEX) (Blanco 24, 51; Navia 26; Azuara 77) 4 - 2 Chicago Fire (Clark 14; Robles 19)
With two successful friendlies under their belt América (MEX) now had a clear road leading to the first game of the Closing Stage Championship - away to Atlas
(little hint: if you want to know the full fixture list for the Closing Stage, it is just the same as the Opening Stage but at opposite venues).
The only possible thing that is now still to be resolved are those contract offers; who will be an América (MEX) player come June/July of 2004?
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