Posted by Here are my three takeaways from a pulsating encounter between Santos and América, where Los Guerreros collected an impressive 4-1 victory:
1) Furch Demonstrates His Value To Santos
Upon his arrival from Veracruz for the Clausura 2017, Argentinean Julio César Furch was expected to be the main goal-getter for Los Guerreros. Nevertheless, in his first campaign he only managed four goals, while he had only scored 5 in 19 games during this Clausura before his double here. However, in this tournament Furch has developed a near telepathic partnership with Djaniny Tavares, helping the Cape Verdean become the league’s top marksman with 15 goals. Djaniny’s productivity has reduced the goalscoring burden on Furch, which has allowed the other aspects of his game to come to the fore. During the regular season, Furch led the league with 36 passes leading to shots, 7 more than the next closest player.
Santos began this game in a 4-4-2 formation, with wingers Brian Lozano and Javier Cortés given license to roam inside and create a numerical advantage for their team in midfield. With the numerical advantage, coach Robert Dante Siboldi looked to have his team play through America with short passing combinations. However, Furch’s large frame and impressive hold-up play make him perhaps the best target man in the league. Therefore, in the moments when Santos found it difficult to play through América, they had the ability to go more direct.
This “Plan B” led directly to two of the home side’s four goals. The first of the night, scored by midfielder Osvaldo Martínez, came from an attacking throw-in for Santos down América’s right hand side. Furch took left-back Jesús Angulo’s throw down on his chest and held the ball up on the right corner of América’s box before finding Djaniny with a square ball. Djaniny then laid off for Martínez to shoot. On the final goal for Los Laguneros, Furch, with his back to goal, contested a long ball out from the back with América center-back Edson Álvarez. As Álvarez tugged away at the Santos number 9’s shirt, both players went down, allowing the ball to bounce past both of them and into the path of Santos substitute Edwuin Cetré, who finished cooly beyond América keeper Augustín Marchesín. Although his two goals were crucial to his team’s victory, perhaps more important for Santos is the tactical flexibility a player like Furch gives them in attack.
2) América Exposed Defensively
During the regular season, Las Águilas had the third-best defense in the league, with only 14 goals conceded. In the previous series against Pumas, América’s backline had not been put under much pressure, as the team’s offense managed an impressive six goals over the two games. In Torreón, however, cracks in the team’s defensive armor became apparent as early as the 10th minute. After América turned the ball over in Santos’ half, Djaniny was released down the left side into acres of space, which had been vacated by a right-back Paul Aguilar. This allowed the Cape Verdean to run at center-back Edson Alvarez and get a shot off, which was hit straight at América goalkeeper Augustín Marchesín.
Ultimately, all four goals that América conceded resulted from poor defending. The first goal came from an attacking throw-in for Santos, with Julio Furch allowed to take the ball down on his chest and hold-up play. For the second goal, Furch was allowed far too much time to shoot outside the box. On the third, left-back Carlos Vargas allowed Jose Abella to hit a low cross, which was whiffed-on by center-back Bruno Valdez, normally América’s most reliable defender, allowing Furch the time to score at the back post. Finally, the fourth goal came from a long ball from inside Santos’ half that was allowed to bounce over Alvarez and in between Valdez and Aguilar, allowing substitute Eduwin Cetré to run through on goal and beat Marchesín.
The final result could have been even more lopsided for Las Águilas had it not been for Marchesín, who made multiple impressive stops in the second half. With América’s starting center-forward Oribe Peralta having his worst goal-scoring season since the Apertura 2010, América had been struggling for goals towards the end of the season until their breakout against Pumas. However, if América concedes a goal in the second leg it would leave them needing to score four to force extra time. Given their shaky defensive performance in this match, América fans better hope their team brings their shooting boots with them to the Estadio Azteca.
3) Could Herrera Be In Trouble If América Are Eliminated?
In the lead-up to this match, América coach Miguel Herrera insisted that his team were not the favorites in the series. However, with Tigres and Rayados both suffering surprise eliminations in the quarterfinals, América was expected to not only win this series but also the league title. In Liguillas, the relative experience that one team or coaching staff has in comparison with the other is often cited as a key factor in determining which team will advance. The Clausura 2018 represents the 18th Liguilla that Miguel Herrera has participated in as a head coach. In contrast, this Liguilla is Santos coach Robert Dante Siboldi’s first. However, Herrera was outmaneuvered in this match by Siboldi, suffering a defeat that leaves his team on the brink of elimination.
Before “El Piojo” agreed to coach América for the second time, his last match in charge of Las Águilas had been the second leg of the Clausura 2013 Final against Cruz Azul. Having scored two goals after the 89th minute to bring the match to extra time, América won the title on penalties in what is widely considered the most dramatic final in Mexican league history. This victory brought América the eleventh of their record twelve league titles (their hated rival, Chivas, also has 12), and meant that Herrera had a lot of credit built up with supporters of Las Águilas when he took the job for a second time. Nevertheless, América’s standing as one of the biggest clubs, if not the biggest club, in México means that they are expected to win every tournament they compete in. Since re-joining the team before the start of the Apertura 2017, Herrera has not won a trophy. Although Herrera had taken charge of 17 Liguillas before this season’s, his Clausura 2013 success represents the only League title he has won. If Herrera fails to win his second title in this Clausura, it is unlikely he will be let go. However, he would certainly enter the coming season on the hot seat.
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