I was just wondering if there was a good scouting report out there about Necaxa. I'm sure they're a strong side, but we should be able to hold our own, if not dominate. Any players to look out for? Any strengths and weaknesses?
The Galaxy will likely hold their own and could easily win the series. Highly unlikely they will "dominate". Heck, the Gals just squeaked by an above average Honduras team by a whopping 3-2 margin!!!
Necaxa is second in their group in the Mexican League and 8th overall. Plus, they're already 11 games into their season. As the most recent Concacaf Champions Cup winner prior to the Galaxy, Necaxa bring a lot to the plate. Two players off the top of my head who are dangerous are Aguinaga and Luna. Victor Ruiz can be deadly on free kicks. Facing a Galaxy team that hasn't even finished up their preseason, I'd say Necaxa are the favorites. Lastly, with both teams historically giving this tournament a lot of attention, I'll go further and bet that the winner of this series is the favorite to win the entire tournament.
I'll stop well short of predicting a G victory. However, Game 1 is on April 9th. 4 day's after LA take on C'bus in the season opener. Preseason will be finished. LA have played some decent teams so far this preseason and I think as long as Necaxa bring a decent lineup, we'll see a good match.
OK, Necaxa gets the first leg right? So which Galaxy will see an undeserving red card? Will it be in the first half of the game? How many Galaxy breaks will be called back for phantom offsides? Who will commit the marginal foul for which the ref awards a penalty kick? How many Galaxy players will be on the field at the final whistle? What are the odds that Ruiz gets the red? These are the burning questions in my mind. -Digital
Just dont give up that away goal on the April 9th. win 1-0 or 2-0 and it's on to the semi's. give up that away goal.... kiss the CCC goodbye.
No - first leg is in Fullerton, second leg away. Do not think Ruiz will go out again. Remember, his two yellows were for dissent. Bet Sigi had a word or two with him about that.
so What happens if they are tied on aggregate? sudden death? penalty kicks? or away goal difference? which is it...
necaxa if not mistaken has been very conservative in the mexican league. There will probably not be a lot of goals (unless galaxy wins the first game and in the second you will see lots of their starters)
Necaxa have played decently this season, but are not on the top of the league. They go hot and cold. The first game of the clausura, they beat Toluca 3-0, have tied America, and yesterday lost to San Luis, not a powerhouse at all. They have the habit of scoring in bunches...one game they score 3, then they went several games without scoring at all. Luis "El Zague" plays for them now, usually comes off the bench about 60th minute. If it's a tight week, I don't know that they would play him. I hope the Galaxy win, but it will be a tough fight.
My 2 cents on Necaxa's players: El Gato Ortiz Necaxas Goalkeeper and the teams weakest link, he sucked ass in Monterrey last year and only managed to join Necaxa because their old GK who had come out of retirement, retired. Luis Roberto Alves Zague "Zaguinho" This veteran Mexican/Brazilian striker can be dangerous with his left foot but age has cought up to him, he is now good at taking advantage of rookie miastakes. He shouldnt be a problem, I wonder if Lalas will man mark him ? Alex Aguinaga Necaxas creative Midfielder and for many years their best player but just like Zague he will soon be retiring. I would say that when Healthy Aguinaga is 3x the player that Cienfuegos is.. Braulio Luna He is currently Necaxas best player. Luna is good at Free kicks and is an excellent ball passer he can also score goals. You can say he is the teams Motor. Rambo Sosa This attacker seems harmless but usually comes out of nowhere and scores important goals. My Check from Uncle Phil should be in the Mail
VS You forgot to mention the one who keeps Necaxa intact. Salvador Cabrera. HE is a sweeper/stopper and one of the main reason Necaxa has one of the best defenses in the MFL. Juan Reynoso. He is up there inyears but has played well in the back for Necaxa. Diego Martinez. One of Necaxa's young players. He is a good defensive mid. Necaxa is a verteran team in every sense.
VS, I expect you have seen enough of both clubs to give us an idea of who is likely to prevail. What do you think?
The Cadaver I see both teams evenly matched. Even though Necaxa has quite the experienced players in Aguinaga, Zague, Cabrera and Reynoso the Galaxy have Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas and the Korean Guy Hung Lo (?) The diffrence could probably be in the younger players (Ruiz) or even set plays. Im expecting a very defensive match up with very few scoring chances given how Necaxa usually plays..
PZ Necaxa is currently in a tight race for a playoff's spot in Group 3 (Top two teams advance) They lost their last game against group rivals Real San Luis and are now 4 points from group leaders Morelia (21) and only one point behind second place RSL (18). Therefore i expect Necaxa to send a mixed A/B team since they will have to rest some of their key players for their match up against Santos Laguna. This is the line up that Necaxa used against RSL: Necaxa.- Omar Ortiz, Miguel Acosta, Juan Reynoso (Víctor Ruiz, 89), Salvador Cabrera, Carlos González (Diego Martínez, 38), Fabián Peña, Alex Aguinaga (Luis Roberto Alves, 73), Braulio Luna, Alvaro Ortiz, Miguel Larrosa y Angel Sosa. DT. Raúl Arias. http://msn.espndeportes.espn.go.com/futbol/squad?leagueCup=MEX.1&id=229&lang=es
Necaxa Based only on the S.Luis match and a couple last yr. of Monterey, I wonder if Fish thinks bagging three agst. 'El Gato' Ortiz is enuf. Ortiz is avg. now and Navarro must've been 40 y.o. They're tough enuf to get thru the middle but S.Luis was all over them for 10-15 mins. at a time. The backline on Necaxa was not up to attacks from avg. S. Luis forwards. Aguinaga is far from the man of '94-95 vintage and I suspect he'll get mangled by Hong more often than not. G's win and march on thru MFL.