Monday 5 March 2012.– Morelia couldn't ask for more momentum heading into the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
Winners of five straight and unbeaten in its last seven - a stretch when it hasn't allowed more than a goal in any one game, Monarcas has climbed atop the Mexican Clausura by two points.
With the first leg of the quarterfinals at home against Monterrey in Estadio Morelos on Tuesday, coach Tomas Boy has his side in prime form.
The second leg is March 13 at Estadio Tecnologico in Monterrey.
"The key to playing well has been a number of factors that have [helped] a good group," Morelia chairman Alvaro Davilla told Record.com. "There is continuity and Tomas Boy's hand has created a good atmosphere around the group."
Morelia's most convincing victory came Saturday, a 3-0 win at Queretaro, taking a a two-goal lead on goal bys Rafael Marquez Lugo and Miguel Sabah inside 20 minutes and finishing it with an Edgar Lugo tally in the 50th.
By contrast, Monterrey has been sagging. Once within two points of the league lead, the Rayados have won only one of its last three and three of its last seven, falling five points back and into in sixth place.
Monterrey has especially struggled in the defensive third. On Saturday, the Rayados loss to Cruz Azul 4-3.
"I think we all have a commitment to the club," Monterrey midfielder Jesus Zavala told Record.com. "I think the team has to work at it, maybe it is a lack of concentration, but we have to keep working on it and take responsibility for the club that we have to not [let that] happen again."
According to coach Victor Manuel Vucetich, the problems for Monterrey, which reached the quarterfinals by winning Group D, are more on set pieces than anything else.
"We made serious mistakes and gave the game itself away because footballing we were fine and we controlled much of the time," Vucetich told Deportes. "However set pieces and the error of a penalty hurt us. That as a detail, but I am quiet at the team's attitude."
Monterrey, which won the CONCACAF Champions League title a year ago, is attempting to repeat. It will host the second leg on March 13 with the winner facing either Mexican rival Pumas UNAM or Isidro Metapan from El Salvador in the semifinals.
*With information from the CONCACAF
0 Comentarios