SuperLiga 2009 is pretty good, if the players want it to be
Edgar Arellano of Chivas de Guadalajara jumps over Atlante's Gerardo Espinoza in a 2008 SuperLiga match played in Santa Clara.
The 2009 SuperLiga tournament, which is being played from June 20 to Aug. 5 throughout the United States this week, features teams from the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol against their counterparts in northern America’s Major League Soccer (MLS).
L.A. Galaxy’s Landon Donovan once said it was just a way to make money. And at least one Mexican club, Tigres de U.N.A.L., agrees with Donovan because they sent their reserve squad to represent them in the tournament.
However, look out for the Tigres’ reserve squad: Jesús Dueñas and Armando Pulido each scored toward a 2-1 victory last Saturday against Chivas USA.
Yes, it was a surprising victory for the young reserves. “I won’t lie to you,” said Carlos Turrubiates, Tigres’ coach. “I didn’t expect this result.”
What of “Temo?”
Cuauhtémoc Blanco, México’s shining Tricolor, and the Chicago Fire have a good chance for a semifinal berth in the tournament. The Fire scored a 1-0 victory against San Luis last Saturday. And now, like tonight, Blanco and Fire will host Chivas USA, who come off the semi-embarrassing loss to the young reserves.
Tigres’ top-division players stayed in their home country, working out in time for the upcoming Apertura tournament that kicks off on July 24.
The single California match this weekend (June 27) is host Chivas USA against San Luis in Carson.
Last year, NorCal soccer fans were treated at Santa Clara’s Buck Shaw Stadium, when Atlante defeated Chivas de Guadalajara, 2-0.
