Stadium: Home Depot Center (Neutral Venue)

Referee: Kevin Stott (USA)

America

Arrive to this final of Interliga as the only team to have been able to win their three matches (0-1 Morelia, 2-1 Toluca, 3-2 Atlas) , and are in pole position for be Mexico 2 in Libertadores, but first they need to came out victorious in this match, where they battle one of their archirivals Cruz Azul. Team which America have controlled in the last eleven matches, in which they are unbeaten against Cruz Azul, taking seven victories and five draws.

America has been playing well during Interliga, as has only received three goals, but one of them from penalty, so barely two goals in plays which is less than one allowed per match. Here in the defensive is where the team suffer the most changes from last tournament to this one as DF Duilio Davino went to FC Dallas (MLS) and DF Oscar Rojas left the team, and with youth players together with the arrival of central defender Sebastian Dominguez is making their efforts to achieve better defending than last tournament and not relay so much on GK Guillermo Ochoa, and is to remark that Dominguez played in the first to matches and America only allowed one goal. In the third match against Atlas he didn't played and the defense allowed two goals and one more that was disallowed, so it is feel when he doesn't play, but for this match it is expected that he will play.

MF Alejandro Argüello will miss this match due to many yellow cards, this absences, which was making a good tournament with three of the six goals of America, provokes changes in the lineup and captain MF German Villa will be on the lineup together with youth MF A. Sanchez. And it is also expected coach D. Brailovsky to return to the players of the first two matches that make a good performance. In the attack youth FW Enrique Esqueda continue to team with FW Salvador Cabañas.

Highlighst new reinforcement MF Richard Nuñez, which played in Cruz Azul and has already make his first goal in America, but has never scored a goal against Cruz Azul despite having already encounter them once when he played with Pachuca. And he was in the center of arguments when he said that America is the best club, words that didn't receive answer from Cruz Azul, and the next day Richard tried to end it saying if he score he will not celebrate.

America has just to keep caution of moments when they allowed the rival to control the match at their like and to maintain the match in control, has the players to do so, and over that their youth players as FW Esqueda, MF Sanchez, MF Silva are showing their quality and maintaining a place in the starting eleven.

Suspended:

MF Alejandro Agüello (from America six goals, he had scored three one in every match)

Cruz Azul

Open Interliga tournament with one defeat (0-1 against San luis from penalty due to a bad referee call), result that bring doubts and sights of another disillusion for Cruz Azul followers, but then Cruz Azul was able to take two consecutive victories (1-0 to Monterrey and 1-0 to Pumas UNAM). Despite their good result and their consequent arrival to Interliga final. It is important to recall that Group A was fair easy as Monterrey was unable to do anything good, barely win their last match and this provoke his coach to be fired. And Pumas went with a youth squad that make a fair participation. In resume Cruz Azul need to test their capacity against important teams America is a great rival for this, they have a long streak of matches unable to beat America, a big rivality with them, and if they are capable of showing important things and wont this match, then they will get Libertadores Cup ticket, beat a big rival and sideline them of Libertadores cup, way to finish a negative streak but the match has to be dispute first.

Cruz Azul suffer many changes in their offensive line after the end of Apertura tournament, FW Richard Nuñez went to Amércia, FW Cesar "Chelito" Delgado went to O. Lyon (France) & FW J. Borguetti to Monterrey. In addition to that FW Miguel Sabah was expelled in the first match of Interliga and then get injured and will not be present in this match, but instead of being alarm the team is relaxed as youth players FW Cesar Villaluz, MF Edgar Andrade and new reinforce Nicolas Vigneri have make good performance in their last two matches, still is has to be remarked that Monterrey and Pumas weren't as powerful as America is being right now. And I repeat this will be the best encounter for Cruz Azul to be able to know his real capability.

In accordance to this, Cruz Azul has only allowed one goal in their three matches which speaks of good defending, but the attacks they confront weren't very hard taking apart San Luis, as Pumas team was a youth one, and in Monterrey they where barely adjusting each other. Remarks that coach Sergio Markarian has make many chance to the defense in every match, it is expected he finally has find his ideal players for this area.

Is to remark that coach Markarian gave the captain bracelet to MF G. Torrado instead of GK O. Perez has he wants a man to be able to reach every space of the field and talk with the referee and although Torrado was one of the best players of Cruz Azul in the last tournament, there a downsize to this, he is the player with the most yellow card and the player that miss more matches due to this fact.

Injured:

FW Miguel Sabah

Match:

The best encounter to end Interliga as both teams have big fans and will drag all the attention to this tournament that is losing attractive. Full attendance is expected and a lot of tension due to this. America has controlled this encounter for many time, and I expected a tight and fought match in all the aspects of the field, there will be not easy moment and both teams will face a lot of work.

Prediction:

Tight match with two teams with good defensive systems, still I sense America stronger due to their middlefield and their offensive as MF Richard Nuñez has provide something that America lacked the last tournament someone that can hold the ball and put it exactly where he wants it, and always free to receive. Cruz Azul relays on youth, capability and energy, but I don't see them with the need things against America.

Pick : Club America
Odds : 1.99
Stake : 8 / 10
Bookmaker : Canbet
Date : 2008-01-13
Match Result :
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