Club America outlasts Cruz Azul
This wasn’t just another game.
Joel Romero, a lifelong Club America fan, knew it. It’s not that often one of the biggest soccer rivalries in Mexico gets staged north of the border. But that’s what America-Cruz Azul is, one of the biggest rivalries in Mexico.
“It’s the most beautiful thing in the world,” said Romero, 42, who had never seen a Cruz Azul-American game in person. “A Clasico Joven?
The fireworks started early as both teams’ entrance to the field was illuminated by a wall of artificial fire. It excited the sellout crowd of 27,000 and was emblematic of the championship-like atmosphere surrounding the main event of the InterLiga finals held at Home Depot Center on Saturday night.
America ended up winning a hotly contested that ended with penalty kicks, 5-4. Cruz Azul’s Cristian Riveros, who hit the cross bar, was the only one to not convert his kick. German Villa, America’s captain, scored the game winner.
The match got off to a fast start. Cruz Azul’s Cesar Villaluz scored the first goal four minutes into the game. America came back to tie it five minutes later, however, with a header by Salvador Cabanas on a corner kick.
Cabanas scored again before the 45-minute mark to give America a 2-1 heading into halftime.
Cruz Azul tied the game on a controversial penalty kick converted by Jaime Lozano in the 71st minute. The replays, though, seemed to show Lozano diving before contact was even made.
Ten minutes later, more fireworks, as a pushing and shoving match ensued and both benches were emptied.
In overtime, Cruz Azul struck first again on a goal by Gerardo Lugo. But with three minutes left in overtime, America’s Rodrigo Lopez tied it at 3-3.
In the first game of the evening, Atlas beat San Luis, 3-0. The Black-And-Red was the worst team in Mexico last season, but due to a timely turnaround in InterLiga advanced to the prestigious Copa Libertadores tournament.
They’ll be slotted as Mexico’s third-seed and will play La Paz FC of Bolivia in the preliminary round on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 to see who advances to the group stage.
America will go in as the second seed and will be placed into a group that includes Argentina’s River Plate and Chile’s Universidad Catolica.
The fans were into the game early on.
Home Depot Center security took the step of blocking off the first four rows of the section directly behind the goal in the North end of the stadium -- during Wednesday’s game, America fans were rowdy, throwing, at one point, five smoke bombs onto the field .
Romero, who grew up in Leon, Guanajuato, lives in La Habra. He arrived at the game without a ticket, but bought two from a scalper at $60 each.
For Romero, who grew up with his father taking him to Leon Stadium when America would come into town, this is a game he won’t forget.
