Club America’s 100th anniversary has come and gone. With the final stretch before the playoff stage begins, the team has a less than firm grasp on making it to the postseason. Playing its first game since the latest international break, las Aguilas face los Xolos de Tijuana Saturday night at Estadio Azteca.
Under the guidance of Miguel Herrera, Tijuana stands atop of the league standings with a four-point lead over Tigres at 27. Since losing in the second week of season, Xolos haven’t lost a game. The team currently rides a three-game winning streak all by a margin of one goal. Along with the team’s success, forward Dayro Moreno has scored a league high nine goals for Xolos. Moreno, however, has only scored one goal in his las six starts.
While injuries have forced las Aguilas to shuffle their starting lineup at a higher rate than desired, the lack of a full squad reflects in its goal differential of zero. Though it has scored just one goal less than Tijuana at 20, America’s defense has matched its goal total. Without Paul Aguilar gone for the foreseeable future, America hurts in the back. Since Ricardo La Volpe replaced America’s former coach mid-season, La Volpe has yet to show the fluidity of the team with just two games in his tenure as America’s coach.
Ambriz’s departure came late in the season, thus La Volpe had little time to familiarize himself with the team. The international break may have come at the most convenient time for las Aguilas with them currently holding onto the sixth spot of the table. The challenge of facing Tijuana opens La Volpe an opportunity to ease the concerns of fans expecting a title in America’s centennial season. Even playing at home doesn’t appear as much of an advantage for America as it has just three home wins for the season.
Now refreshed, and with a clearer assessment of the team, La Volpe can give fans and the Club America front office a reason to believe the centennial celebration has not yet ended, but any result other than a win complicates the team’s journey to the end of the season.
Last Meeting
Club America 6-1 Tijuana – April 9, 2016 – 2016 Clausura
Darwin Quintero and Oribe Peralta notch up a pair of goals in a blowout win.