Chivas Adds to Cruz Azul’s Lethargy, 3-1

No one would have blamed Cruz Azul of Mexico City had it shown up flat and a bit lethargic for its match against Chivas of Guadalajara on Wednesday night at the Coliseum. Cruz Azul was, after all, coming off a frustrating and heartbreaking loss in the Mexican first-division winter season title match three days earlier.

It took Cruz Azul just 30 seconds to beat back that theory. That’s when forward Mauro G. Camoranessi beat Chivas goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez for the game’s first goal.

Unfortunately for Cruz Azul, it could not sustain the effort as a lethargic second half proved costly. A pair of second-half scores gave Chivas a 3-1 victory in an international match entitled Star of the Millennium.

Cruz Azul scored after pushing the ball down the left side on the opening play. Midfielder Julio Cesar Pinheiro set Camoranessi up with a cross pass that he deposited into an empty net, Sanchez having bitten on Pinheiro’s pass.

Chivas scored nine minutes into the second half when midfielder Ramon Morales headed in a Jesus “Cabrito” Arellano kick from the right side.

The winning goal came in the 72nd minute when forward Hector del Angel converted a shot that had ricocheted off Cruz Azul goalkeeper Oscar Perez. Chivas added another score in an impromptu overtime period to decide the overall series winner.

Cruz Azul, which had tied Pachuca of Hidalgo, 2-2, on Thursday, lost Sunday’s championship, 1-0, to Pachuca on a goal in sudden death.