Tour Aguila | Club America vs Pachuca Review

Starting XI for Club America against CF Pachuca in their third preseason game.

McAllen, TX - With only eighteen days before the start of the Liga MX Apertura 2018, Club America took the pitch against CF Pachuca on Wednesday July 4th. Prior to the beginning of this match Las Aguilas had two previous matches against Atlante and current Liga MX champions Santos Laguna. Both games ended in a Club America win.

Expectations as always high for Las Aguilas coming into this match up, especially for the likes of Jeremy Menez and Cecilio Dominguez. Both demonstrating in previous matches good rhythm and promising form. The following was the starting XI that would have the task of facing off Pachuca; Marchesin, P, Aguilar, B. Valdez, E. Aguilera, J, Sanchez, I. Aguilar, G. Rodriguez, R. Ibarra, C. Dominguez, J. Menez, H. Martin.

Starting XI for Club America

As the game kicked off Club America began pressing and dominating the game. The Azulcremas passed with such fluidity to their game that Pachuca was left to be another spectator. Both Jeremy Menez and Cecilio Dominguez linking up with each other to cause all types of problem for the Tuzo's defense. The team playing as confident as they where began knocking at the door and started to test there shots against goal. It wasn't until the 31st min that America saw their fist real clear opportunity in the form of a penalty. Jeremy Menez was taken down by Oscar Perez inside the box and up came to take the penalty Cecilio Dominguez. The Paraguayan slotted home yet another penalty in this preseason and adding to his goal count making it three goals in three games.

Pachuca found themselves fighting back but with no real threat. America controlled most of the possession and when ever they didn't have the ball, defensively they where hard to break down. As the game progressed you could tell this America team knew exactly what they where playing. Tactically and structurally speaking the team was executing the plan laid out by manager Miguel Herrera perfectly. The team closed the half on a high note. In the 45th min Jorge Sanchez (New signing for Club America for this season) made a terrific play in which he backed heel a pass to Cecilio Dominguez who slotted away yet another goal making his tally now four in preseason. Also it's to be noted that Henry Martin was subbed out due to injury and on came the youngster Fer Gonzalez.

The second half was not as promising as the first for Club America. With substitutions being made at the half, it was expected for the team to not play as they where. Even though things didn't flow as well as they did in the first half, there was a positive to note. The third goal was scored by youngster Fer Gonzalez off a Cecilio Dominguez assist. The goal came in the 49th min of the match of an Ibarra shot rebound in with Dominguez then squared to the youngster who put it away making it 3-0.

After the third goal the team began to sink. They stopped playing the great soccer they where displaying and began making simple mistakes in dangerous parts of the pitch. The backline that was so solid in the first half became clumsy and because of that Pachuca where able to pull back two goals. One in the 59th min and the other in the 68th min. Things would slowly go from bad to worse for America as Jeremy Menez would come off the pitch in the 85th min of the match after slipping and landing on his knee. Ultimately the second half was one to forget for this side. The play was so disruptive from the backline to the front. Players seemed at times to relaxed and at other times not fully concentrated. All in all this game serves its purpose to see the rhythm of certain players and get the youngsters first team action as well. But the question is, what can we take from this preseason friendly going forward?

Well the positives for America are that players (at least those who started in the first half) are showcasing good rhythm. Players like Renato Ibarra, Jeremy Menez, Guido Rodriguez, and Cecilio Dominguez look to be starting off on the right foot. Add to that list the newly arrived Jorge Sanchez and things look promising for Las Aguilas going forward. The team knows the style of soccer that is asked of them and the best thing is that they're executing it well. The structure of the team and the balance of it are something to be content about. On the other hand the negatives will definitely be the injuries that are starting to accumulate so early in the season. And not to mention the lack of consistency for the full 90 minutes. Still no word on how bad the injuries are for both Menez and Martin but it can't be good to see them go off.

In the end Club America take an important win that will help boost moral for players, that will then hopefully turn into even better play for the next match. Final result in McAllen, TX Club America 3 - 2 Pachuca.

July 4, 2018 | Ivan Pineda