Chivas Vs. America 2011, Super Clasico: Chivas Guadalajara Wins Big, 3-0

It may not be Europe and neither Chivas Guadalajara nor Club America will play in the UEFA Champions League next year so some people might not know it, but Mexico’s Super Clasico might very well be the world’s best rivalry. On Sunday evening in front of a packed Estadio Omnilife, Chivas set the home crowd afire with a scintillating 3-0 win over their hated rivals with none of the goals better than Marco Fabian’s that made it 2-0 and largely out of America’s reach.

With their win, Chivas is now into second place in group A of the Clausura and in position to make the Liguilla. On the flip side, America’s grip on second place in group B is not as stable as it once was. They sit just two points ahead of San Luis and Toluca and Toluca has a match in hand. Even with the important league implications, nobody will remember the Super Clasico for its impact on the table. As always, it will be remembered for its intensity and now, for Fabian’s goal.

Carlos Reinoso has recognized how desperate times are for America in the Super Clasico, and he’s made a dramatic change to start the second half. The Super Eagles’ inexplicably benched striker Vicente Vuoso has entered the game for defender Diego Cervantes, as America have switched to a 4-4-2 in an attempt to reel back Chivas, who lead 1-0. Getting your best goal scorer on the pitch when down 1-0 is probably a good idea, but it begs the question: Why wasn’t Vuoso in the game in the first place?

Cervantes was involved in a bit of an altercation in the first half when he struck Erick Torres, so this really is a duel purpose substitution. If someone was going to get sent off in this game for an act of stupidity, it was probably going to be Cervantes. Obviously, America would probably struggle to bring back Chivas and take points from the game if they were playing with ten men.

After tournament after tournament of disappointing Super Clasicos, America and Chivas are finally turning in an entertaining match in 2011. Erick “Cubo” Torres scored a header in the first half to put Chivas in front, but America have had plenty of chances to equalize. Though these games have not been open at all in the past, based on the lineups and styles of play of these teams throughout this tournament, the match has been predictably open.

After Torres scored, America had an own goal by Chivas correctly disallowed for offsides on Vicente Sanchez while they had another ball cleared off the line. Since the Torres goal, they’ve actually looked like the more dangerous team, and they look poised to score. Chivas aren’t providing much of a challenge in the center, so Carlos Reinoso could feel inclined to bring off a midfield player for Vicente Vuoso in the second half to truly put the pressure on Chivas.

Chicharito who? Erick Torres is quickly establishing himself as a young legend for Chivas Guadalajara, and his headed goal against America to give the goats the lead in the 2011 Clausura’s Super Clasico will do nothing to slow down the massive hype train. The papers are already hailing Cubo as better than Javier Hernandez, and while that’s a massive stretch, he’ll hear a lot more of that in the coming weeks.

While Mexico’s media darling is the man who scored the goal, the man the media seems to love to hate, Guillermo Ochoa, was partially responsible for the goal and the pressure from the papers should heat up even more. The goal was created by a Xabier Baez cross to the center of the box, headed on net by Cubo Torres, but Memo should have done quite a bit better with the shot. He got a light tip on the ball as it went into the side netting when he probably should have kept it out, but regardless, Chivas lead and America must chase.

After just five minutes of action in the 2011 Clausura’s version of the Super Clasico between America and Chivas, the game has been changed considerably due to injury. Chivas Guadalajara defender Jonny Magallon, renown as one of the best defenders in Mexico and a perennial Mexican international, picked up an injury and has been forced to come off. Miguel Ponce, the man who came on, is a more than serviceable replacement, but it’s impossible to argue that Chivas haven’t been hurt in a big way by Magallon’s departure.

America’s offense has been potent this year, and their center forward Vicente Sanchez, who is in great form, will likely be licking his chops at the prospect of facing a defense that doesn’t include Magallon. Recent Clasicos haven’t lived up to the billing, but all of the signs pointed to a more open game in the build-up. Magallon’s departure only increases the chance of goals further.

The Super Clasico often brings surprises, but at least with the lineups, there are none from Chivas. They are playing in their 4-4-2 with all the players you would expect as Club America visits them at Estadio Omnilife. As for America, it’s not the usual for them as they go to a five-man back line. Regardless of the lineups, with this being the Super Clasico, there are sure to be some surprises in the match.

Both clubs are in a tight battle to make the Liguilla so there is plenty on the line in addition to the usual bragging rights. The last time these two teams squared off it was a horribly boring match, but that can’t happen again, can it? The intensity and rivalry alone can carry this match on and make it the classic that earned it its nickname.

Like most great sports rivalries, the Mexican Primera’s Super Clasico is about a lot more than what happens on the field. It can be viewed through the lens of class, ethnicity or geography, as well as numerous other ways. FMF State of Mind, SB Nation’s Mexican soccer blog, touches on all of these things in trying to assess what makes the Chivas-America rivalry one of the greatest in the Western Hemisphere.

Tonight at 7 pm ET, Chivas and America contest the 2011 Clausura’s version of the Super Bowl. Yes, the Liguilla final is a big deal, but more people watch this game on television than even the final. The rivalry between Chivas and America is the kind of thing that people who aren’t even interested in sports at all, let alone football, can get into. Their match in the 2010 Apertura was a downright putrid affair, but this time, Chivas have a bright young star up top and both teams have more to play for. Hopefully, the Super Clasico renews its luster.

Chivas struggled to replace Chicharito’s scoring output in the last tournament, but the emergence of young Erick Torres has brought them back from the dead into Liguilla contention. His presence, coupled with America’s leaky defense should allow for an entertaining game. The big news on the other side is that America’s star striker Vicente Vuoso will be benched to start the match, despite being healthy. Vicente Sanchez, who scored a brace last week against Puebla, is expected to get the start over Vuoso.