Guadalajara’s Chivas Beats Brazil’s Internacional, 2-0

At least it didn’t rain.

In a game billed as “the best against the best” because both teams are the league leaders in their respective countries, Mexico’s Guadalajara and Brazil’s Internacional of Porto Alegre produced a disappointing international soccer match Sunday at the Coliseum.

In the end, Chivas won, 2-0, but neither team looked like a champion.

Even though Guadalajara is Mexico’s most popular team and Internacional is a four-time Brazilian champion, only between 5,000 and 6,000 attended. Nobody missed much.

Eight minutes into the game, Chivas suffered a setback when its captain, Mexican national team star Ramon Ramirez, a key defender who often helps in the midfield and in attack on the left wing, was injured.

The only bright spot in an uneventful first half was the play of 18-year-old Murilo--a member of Brazil’s under-20 national team that finished second to Argentina at the World Youth Championship in Qatar last month. But Murilo was frequently fouled seconds after touching the ball.

The second 45 minutes was not any better and only a mistake broke the scoreless tie.

In the 79th minute, Missael Espinoza’s short corner kick from the right side ended on Jose Manuel (Chepo) De la Torre’s left foot. He sent a perfect center into the penalty area and defender Carlos Turrubiates’ hard header put Chivas on top.

Three minutes before the end, Espinoza stole the ball from midfielder Cesar Prates and beat goalkeeper Cesar Silva with a low and powerful right-foot shot.