Severe Hosts

I did not get to the game this weekend, I will not bore you with the reasons, suffice to say:- John, you would recognise the situation. So this week I will treat you to a brief overview of each of the five games in the Apertura 2007, Primera Vuelta, Jornada 4.

Eagle Eats Canary
Aguila 2 – Once Municipal 0
Saturday night in the Estadio Juan Francisco Barrera in San Miguel a competent Aguila saw off an 11 Municipal without any attacking gumption whatsoever.

They failed to trouble Rivera in goal, and showed little ambition until the second half, when the occasional attack fumbled with very wayward finishing. By this stage Nicolàs Muñoz had scored from the spot after the half hour, following a handball just inside the box (“The 16.50” as it is here). Muñoz bagged again early in the second half, and came close to a hat trick late on.

The San Miguel team will be happy with a solid home win, but the lads from Ahuachapán will need to show more ambition if they want to extend their 30 game unbeaten run at home, next week against San Salvador.

Another escape in the Custatlan
San Salvador 2 – Metapan 2
In contrary to Alianza who last week scored late last week to salvage a point, San Salvador threw 3 points out the window in a disastrous last five minutes, in what we used to call “a grandstand finish”.

San Salvador, “los panteras”, played the best football on the day, and were justly ahead after 20 minutes from a blistering Dennis Alas free kick. The same player scored a carbon copy on 33 minutes to make it 2-0. This Dennis Alas (pictured) is a talisman for the team from the capital, and the newspaper has just been recording his free kicks from outside the area: - an average of 95 km/h; the fastest was 155 km/h. “It’s just a natural gift” says the player. Not sure if that is arrogant or modest. Also I am not 100% convinced that the journalist knew how to use the speed gun.

Following changes at half time the current champions were slowly coming back into the game, but San Salvador were still looking comfortable. However on 86 minutes Paolo Suarez (Uruguay) scored to give a glimmer of hope. When Alex Escobar scored from a free kick deep into injury time, Metapán were in ecstasy. Once the dust settles, however, they will realise it was just a draw, and leaves them second, and Los Panteras will rue “doing a Pumas”.

Top to Bottom
CD FAS 0 – Chalatenango 1
FAS’s bad run continues, this time losing at home, to leave them clear bottom with 2 points with 6 goals received from the four games so far.

Whilst things in Santa Ana maybe getting too hot for Nelson Ancheta, over in Chalatenango they are in dream land – top of the table. The only goal of the game came from the winger who delights in the name of Gilberto Murgas, on the stroke of full time.

Alianza Forget How To Win
Nejapa 2 - Alianza 2 Video
Alianza draw again, this time losing the advantage. In the Polideportivo Vitoria Gasteiz Nejapa a large turnout saw an interesting and even game. In fact Nejapa made all the early running, and Dago Portillo, the Alianza keeper, was the first-half hero, pulling off a string of fine saves.

But it was the visitors who went two up, with goals either side of half time, That man Retana again, finding space in the box on 41 minutes, and Arturo Albarran scoring a fine free kick a minute into the second half.

However Nejapa were never out of this game, and controlled much of it especially in midfield. In a five minutes period Portillo went from hero to zero, he seemed rooted for the first goal (51 minutes, Wilber Martinez), and for the second he mishandled a fairly easy long shot, only to see Helman Monterrosa following up strongly to get the equaliser on 56 minutes.

Alianza regained their composure, and neither team could break through, and a draw was a fair result. To make me think of home, two Alianza players were sent off after the final whistle for complaining to the ref. Muy Mexicano.

Usulutecos Stop The Rot
Luis Angel FIRPO 2 – Vista Hermosa 0
An excellent display of football saw FIRPO end their bad run, as Vista Hermosa did not look at all comfortable in the Sergio Torres Rivera, this week living up to its nickname of “The Devil’s Cauldron”.

The goals came from Guillermo Moran on 11 minutes and a well taken Leonardo Pekarnic penalty following a foul by Patrico Barroche on 36 minutes.

HOME FORTRESSES
As is well known the Canaries of Once Municipal have not lost at home for 30 games, and so far this season there has only been one away victory (Chalate away at FAS), making all the teams here “Severe Hosts”. I think we will see that change tonight.

TABLE (4 played)
Chalatenango 9pts +3
Metapan 7pts 0
FIRPO 6pts +1
Aguila 6pts 0
11 Municipal 6pts 0
Vista Hermosa 6pts 0
Nejapa 5pts 0
San Salvador 5pts 0
Alianza 5pts -1
FAS 2pts -3

This week it is a double round, and they are playing again Wednesday night (Felix willing): here are the games, with my predictions:-

Alianza v Chalate draw
Once Municipal v San Salvador home win
Nejapa v Aguila away win
Vista Hermosa V FAS draw
Metapan v Firpo draw

We shall see how I do. There seems to be a strong second division here in El Salvador, and a team from my barrio “Santa Tecla”, so I will try and get there, and maybe do a report on the second division soon.

The last words today are from joint league top scorer, Dennis Alas. His 5 point plan for taking great free kicks:-

1) Always aim to kick the ball where the valve is. I seem to remember Gary McAllister learning that from Gordon Strachan. Do balls still have valves?
2) Get a good run up, to hit the ball hard. A strong shot is much more effective.
3) Always aim to hit the ball above the bar. In the majority of cases a goal will result. I want you all to think about that statement very carefully.
4) Find a good spot on the pitch to put the ball, preferably a slightly raised area.
5) Aim for one of the posts. It’s the hardest area for the keeper to reach.

Wise words. Remember to check back soon for the reports on the midweek games.
DT