Panteras Wounded & Sunk - Seven Without A Win

There is very little to say about this game, except San Salvador offered nothing and Firpo’s problems were of their own making. This was not a regulation two nil away win, it should easily have been six nil at least. However a clearly dominate Firpo showed some very poor finishing, and seemed to find it hard to keep their shape.

Saul Rivera had few options, with Alas out injured and Alex Obregon suspended, his hand was forced to play 4-4-2 against Firpo’s 4-3-3. To say the Panthers midfield and strikers were ineffective is a gross understatement. Ricardo Orellano should be picked out for special mention as he was particularly poor. Not that the Firpo strike force of Patricio Barroche, Fernando Leguizamon (pictured) and Francisco Medrano was anything to write home about, missing chance after chance. Guillermo Moran, midfielder, also managed to head clear from practically on the line, in the centre of the goal.

I think San Salvador had one “chance” in the first half (free kick) and a couple in second half, and so complete was the Firpo dominance even a poor display in front of goal could not save the home side.

I am wondering, now, how sensible Wednesday night's friendly was for San Salvador. Even though it was a game I expect to see the big European teams emulate, they played their supporters club. Given the number of supporters the seem to have (about thirty), it was good to see they won 7-0.

The big game of the week was the “clasico” of El Salvadorian football – In front of a packed house at Juan Francisco Barraza Aguila beat the Tigers of FAS 3-2, in an entertaining game, during a heavy rainstorm. The ex-Tiger Nicolas Muñoz scored two nice goals, his first particularly worth seeing on that video. He is now top scorer in the league, and his family had come from Panama to see the game.

Also on Saturday Metapan and Alianza played out a nil all draw. Despite how that sounds I am told it was also an entertaining game.

Once Municipal’s season is suddenly falling apart, they finally scored, but still lost 2-1 at home to Vista Hermosa. Nejapa won at home well 4-2 against Chalate, that’s a good result for them, and that concludes the Apertura 2007, primera vuelta. Here there are two half seasons, but the teams play each other twice each half season, four times a year. It’s sort of a mix between Mexico and Scotland, if you can imagine such a thing.