All Signs Point to Zodiac Loss
The signs that this was no ordinary Zodiac game were everywhere Tuesday night at Santa Ana Stadium. But the biggest clue was the crowd--announced at 5,000--that packed the west side of the stadium.
Most came to see and cheer the Zodiac’s opponent--Pumas of UNAM, a popular team in Mexico’s first division. Most went home happy.
The Pumas, playing their first game of a preseason training trip in California, dominated play, winning the exhibition with ease, 3-0.
“They’re a great squad,” Zodiac sweeper Kevin Grimes said. “This is why they are the Pumas de Mexico in the Mexican first division, and we are the Orange County Zodiac, an expansion team in the U.S. second division.”
The Pumas didn’t even have their full team. Seven more players are expected to arrive in the coming days after completing stints with various Mexican national teams. The Pumas will play three more exhibitions before returning to Mexico City this month for the start of their season.
The Pumas have the reputation of developing young players and coaches--Jorge Campos of the Galaxy played for them; Bora Milutinovic is a former player and coach.
Their latest phenom, 21-year-old striker Bravlio Luna, set up the Pumas’ first goal in the 13th minute. Luna collected a bad pass by Zodiac defender Tayt Ianni near midfield and streaked down the sideline, eventually sending a perfect crossing pass to Jesus Olalde, who headed it into the goal.
It was one of the Pumas’ many precision plays. The Zodiac was fortunate to trail only 1-0 at the half.
The Pumas continued to control the action after the break. They scored in the 53rd minute on a header by Olalde off a corner kick by Ignacio Flores and in the 82nd minute when Giuliano Sabbatini headed in a cross from Roberto DeMoura.
The Zodiac had few chances of its own, but Grimes, the Zodiac’s sweeper and captain, said it was still a good experience. The Zodiac will resume its A-League schedule Friday at Atlanta, the first of four consecutive games on the road.
“We don’t get to face competition like this during the regular season,” Grimes said. “This will really lift our confidence going into our four-game trip. We were pushed to our very limit tonight.”
