I'm still updating the above post with updated Champions' Cup results, but I wanted to make a few comments on tonight's games:
- The Marquense-Pachuca match went as I expected. Pachuca scored on a very nice counterattack and killed off the game from there. Marquense had a brief 10-minute outburst late in the second half when they had three chances to score, but the match was long over.
- An indication of how seriously the clubs throughout the region take this competition: Marquense's stadium looked mostly full, while the Jalisco stadium is very sparsely attended.
- Chivas' pressing is driving W Connection nuts - they are always forced into making lateral or backward passes, unable to launch any attacks. I don't think that Connection's defense could hold out much longer, and lo and behold Chivas just scored the opening goal.
- You know, I'm not the first and definitely won't be the last to say this, but it has to be said: CONCACAF's referees are really crap. First the ref disallows a Chivas goal because of an offside that didn't exist, or an elbow that only he saw. Then he looks at a collision between the Connection 'keeper and a Chivas player in the box and points to the spot! At least he's consistently crap to both sides, but right now Connection could be burned by this call.
- But Beckles has other ideas! What a save, Connection are still in this game!
- Second half started. Connection were defending really well in the air in the first half, and then Santana scores on a free header a minute and a half in. Chivas now leads on aggregate!
- Now Connection have to go on attack to tie the series, which they were not able to do in the first half. Advantage Chivas.
- Chivas goal disallowed, close to the hour mark. The replay looked like offside, but the announcers said that el Bofo may have touched the ball with his arm.
- A chaotic series of events as El Venado strikes the crossbar, el Bofo fires a shot into a Connection defender.
- About fifteen minutes to go. More Connection players are moving forward. Even so it's hard for them to maintain possession. On Chivas' last counter there were only three players on the back line.
- And there it is. El Bofo Bautista scores the goal off a low cross by Medina. 3-0 to Chivas, and that should decide the series.
- Six minutes to go now...looks like the dream will die for W Connection. I would have liked to have seen them be a bit more brave against Chivas, but they are lacking a holding/creating presence in midfield.
- Bravo very nearly made it four, but a scrambling effort by the Connection defender cleared the ball away.
- The final whistle blows, and Guadalajara joins Pachuca in the semifinals. And most importantly, both teams will host the decisive return leg in their respective series.
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