Victory in make-up game lifts Puebla into first place
While Mexican soccer fans were still breathing sighs of relief over El Tri’s great escape from Jamaica, Puebla snuck into first place with a win over Tijuana on Friday night.
The Camoteros-Xolos match was postponed from last week after 10 Tijuana players tested positive for Covid. Three second-half goals allowed the home side to overturn a 1-0 deficit and rise past Cruz Azul and Atlas to the top of the Liga MX table.
Newcomer Lisandro López had given the visiting Xolos a first-half lead just four days after joining the Liga MX cellar-dwellers, but a George Corral penalty kick in minute 57 equalized. Maxi Araujo and Fernando Aristeguieta netted in the final 10 minutes to give Puebla the victory.
The result lifts the Camoteros to 7 points (2-1-0) and the club’s +4 goal differential is better than Cruz Azul and Atlas, both at +2.
Liga MX coaching carousel
Puebla coach Nicolás Larcamón is likely to be in great demand come the summer. Since arriving in The City of Angels in December 2020, he has guided the Camoteros to the Liga MX playoffs in both seasons in charge, reaching the quarterfinals both times.
Larcamón is only 37 and he will be out of contract in December. Puebla ownership knows it will not be able to retain him beyond the end of the year so the supposition is that “La Franja” will accept bids for his services after the current season. Pachuca reportedly tried to purchase his contract in December, but the club decided to make one more run with the Argentine.
Speaking of coaches, Liga MX has already seen its first dismissal. Atlético de San Luis canned Marcelo Méndez on Jan. 26 with the Tuneros stuck in last place in both the Clausura 2022 standings and the Liga MX “Relegation Standings.” Méndez leaves with a 4-8-9 record.
According to reports, coaching nomad Ricardo La Volpe is the leading candidate to take the reins in San Luis. La Volpe, 69, has made 16 coaching stops in Liga MX, managed three clubs in Argentina and another in Egypt. “El Bigotón” also took El Tri to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and briefly managed Costa Rica’s national team.
Transfer News
After sending two top offensive threats to América (Diego Valdés and Juan Otero), Santos Laguna provided coach Pedro Caixinha with a goal-scorer.
Colombian striker Harold Preciado is the newest Guerrero and the 27-year-old has an impressive résumé. Preciado bagged 51 goals in 98 games with Deportivo Cali in his home country while also recording 57 goals in 104 games with Shenzhen in the Chinese Super League.
In Mexico City, Cruz Azul rid themselves of Guillermo “Pol” Fernández who had made he clear he wanted out. The Cementeros sold the Argentine midfielder to Boca Juniors for $2 million dollars, at least getting a decent return on the 30-year-old who could have left on a free this summer.
Next. Roster shuffling continues in Liga MX. dark
With the departure of Fernández, “La Máquina” has significantly overhauled the roster that earned the club its ninth Liga MX title in May of last year. “Pol” is the fifth starter to depart La Noria since the end of last season – Luis Romo, Roberto Alvarado, Orbelín Pineda and Jonathan Rodíguez were the others. In addition, two top subs – Yoshimar Yotún and Walter Montoya – are no longer with the Cementeros.