Juan Reynoso’s head and Ángel Comizzo’s staircase: the actors last time Cruz Azul screamed champion in the Mexican league | Liga MX | Club Leon | Winter tournament 1997 | SPORTS TOTAL

Between Juan Reynoso Y Angel Comizzo not only is there a distance of more than 4 thousand kilometers (Mexico DF – Lima), nor the present that places the Peruvian as the technician who set an incredible streak in the Liga MX and the Argentinian as the foolish coach who says he is not a magician after meeting his rivals in the Copa Libertadores; between the two – furthermore, they were the ones who led academic in their last championships – there’s a story that separated them more than 20 years ago: Cruz Azul vs. León, definition of the 1997 Winter Tournament

As if it were an armed script for a short film about the past weekend, the ‘Indio’ broke down the questions they asked him in the interview -via University Play- about Palmeiras, Defense and Justice and the winner of the key between Gremio and Independiente del Valle, the teams he will face in the group stage of the Libertadores 2021.

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“We will try to leave the prestige of our league in the best possible way, but they need to know that it is complicated, it is difficult, at an international level they are playing something different, it is a different story. And if we add up all the health problems plus the injuries I have. If someone is a magician I’m a soccer coach, not a magician “, the “U” engineer clarified.

Contrary to this statement, in a completely different situation, the Blue cross from Juan Reynoso took up the challenge of facing the Chivas de Guadalajara that is the history of the Liga MX And he achieves it. The 1-0 was enough for the ‘Cement Machine’ to have a string of 12 consecutive wins in the Aztec tournament, showing only the 2019 Lion and the Necaxa 1934-1935. Now, against Pedro Aquino’s America, he is going for the absolute goal, although the ‘Cabezón’ will miss the game because he was ejected.

This is how the present is both going Reynoso Like it ComizzoConsolidated versus questioned, a showdown that had its very first chapter in the 90s in Mexican football, and for more coincidence, set in the last official title of Cruz Azul, the current leader of the game who after more than 23 year to win. drought.

Warm winter

If at some point the organization of Mexican and Peruvian football can be seen face-to-face, it is that it changes format, name or structure from time to time. For example in 1997 Mexico Argentina’s lead was followed and it began to be played with short tournaments (two per year). And while in Peru -as in Argentina- it was called Apertura y Clausura, in the Aztec country they were referred to as summer (January-June) and winter (July-December) tournamentIn addition, they have adopted the well-known ‘Golden Target’ for the definition phases.

In that season José Soto played in Puebla, the ‘Chorri’ Palacios were loaned to Cruzeiro on loan from Tecos UAG, a Solari (Jorge, the uncle of Santiago, the current coach of Aquino) directed Club América and Juan Reynoso he was the captain of the Blue crossMerits of the big head? Runner-up of the 1994-95 season, champion of the Mexico Cup (1996) and Concacaf Champions Cup (1996), today renamed Concachampions.

In 1997, the ‘Cement plants’ they were the ‘star’ of Mexican football. They had Luis Fernando Tena as coach, the goalkeeper was the ‘Rabbit’ Óscar Pérez, the Peruvian Reynoso He played defensively, Benjamín Galindo owned the wheel and at the top of the goalscorer his name was Carlos Hermosillo.

In the first half, Percy Olivares played left back Blue cross Before leaving for PAOK Salónica FC in Greece, and for the second part of the year, the challenge for the Blues was to improve on their ninth place finish in the summer tournament, where they were dropped from the Liguilla after 25 points as Atlético Morelia . but with a worse goal difference (+3 to -3).

For his part, Angel Comizzo He was to play his third short tournament at Club León, arriving directly from Banfield in 1996. The feline painting was one place lower Blue cross with 23 points in the short tournament that defined Guadalajara against Toros Neza, making Chivas champion in the summer of 1997.

The ‘Indio’ already gave shows in his competitions. His experience and development in the arc gave a lot to talk about, although he was never called up to the Argentina team before and after the World Cup in Italy 90. A) Yes, Cruz and León came to fight step by step in the winter of 1997 of the Mexican League.

The regular stage of the tournament placed León in Group 1 along with Atlante, Veracruz, Atlético Celaya and Puebla; while Blue cross coincided in group 2 with Chivas de Guadalajara, Monterrey, Toluca and Tigres. Of the two, the Blues had a much more complicated pool, although the first stage requirement was to finally meet all the participating teams.

The general table ended with León leading with 32 points after 9 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses; Blue crossIn the meantime, he was guided with 31 units and 8 wins, 7 draws and 2 losses. The only chance they had to hit again (they were 2-2 in the regular season) would be in a possible final.

So it was. Blue cross he left Atlas (5-1 aggregate) and Atlante (2-1 aggregate) to arrive at definition. León, for his part, had a more complicated outlook and faced Toros Neza (total 6-4) and América (total 3-2) to reach the final of the tour.

The games that defined the 1997 Winter Tournament champion are a separate chapter. Emotions, goals, injuries, assaults and a written ending for a movie

Head and shovel

Juan Reynoso was real in the Blue cross In the all-against-all phase, he played 16 of the 17 games, and he arrived with the sharp coats and tape of the captain holding his arm to try and win the title with the ‘Cement Machine’.

Comizzo he did not lose any of the 21 games that León played between Stage One and the Liguillas. The Argentinian was a guarantee in the feline’s bow and longed to take his first title in Mexican football.

To the final, Blue cross it came with a big victim. Carlos Hermosillo, his goalscorer, who had scored 13 goals before the definitions, would miss the first leg at the Estadio Azul in Mexico City. The reason? He received a heavy blow against Atlante that broke some ribs and could not participate in the match.

The Blue cross tuned in with Óscar Pérez, Guadalupe Castañeda, José Luis Sixtos, Juan Reynoso (C), Omar Rodríguez; Carlos Barra, Joaquín Moreno, Héctor Adomaitis; Benjamín Galindo, Julio César Yegros and Juan Francisco Palencia. And in response, León put his best eleven with: Angel ComizzoRicardo Cadena, Carlos Turrubiates, Fabián Prátola, Sigifredo Mercado; Roberto Medina, Flavio Medina, Álberto García; Hernán Medford, Misael Espinosa and José Antonio Reinoso.

In the first leg, played on December 4, Benjamín Galindo took advantage of the 53rd minute in which they took a penalty for the hands of Comizzo and take a 1-0 lead over Guanajuato in the second leg. The scoreboard basically stayed in favor of the Blues due to the great performance of the defense led by Juan Reynoso.

The same answer would have the first blue line in the return, on December 7, played at the Camp Nou of Club León, where Hermosillo again awaited his chance from the replacement bench, but with a prepared surprise.

León was able to level the overall score with both Missael Espinoza (53 ′) and led the game to extra time, where Hermosillo was finally able to step in under the orders of Luis Fernando Tena. Under the jersey, the attacker donned a bulletproof vest to avoid strong shocks that could affect the rib injury he sustained.

While Reynoso and his teammates fought to keep the locals from reaching the second goal, a play marked the final destination of the second leg. For minute 100, Carlos Hermosillo went to contest a loose ball Angel Comizzo in the León regionThe cruel game can still be seen on YouTube. After the crash, and with the attacker on the field, the Argentinian goalkeeper kicked him off the ground and opened a wound in his face.

Referee Arturo Brizio ran to penalty spot and blamed the foul, but didn’t dismiss Comizzo despite the aggression. It was undoubtedly 1997, today would be the same game of eviction and many penalty dates.

To top off the heroism of the play, Hermosillo, still bleeding face and stained shirt, took the ball to perform the free kick. In that Winter Tournament 1997 the ‘Golden Goal’ was in effect, which would determine the painful key between France and Paraguay in the World Cup a year later.

What did the golden purpose mean? If Hermosillo scored from twelve steps, the game ended and Blue cross champion of the competition was crowned after 17 years (the last time was in the 1979-1980 season). The attacker chose to open his foot to place the ball on the left Comizzo, who preferred to jump to the other side and see his gate defeated.

Televisa cameras monitor the celebration of Hermosillo and the coronation of Blue cross, and at the same time show how Comizzo He approaches referee Brizio and slaps him close to the face.

“The biggest punishment you can inflict on a player is silence. The truth was there was no comment. Throughout that tournament, Ángel was the figure of the team, he took us to that final, he saved us many games that we could have lost with spectacular saves. “said Carlos Turrubiates, León player and teammate last year Comizzo, at mediotiempo.com.

“I became addicted to Hermosillo”Later the ‘Indio’, the protagonist in all the specials said of the worst kicks in Mexican football. The play marked his career, as well as that of Juan Reynoso, captain thereof Blue cross that he had waited 17 years to become a champion, and since then he has waited nearly 24 years to return to the Olympic round.

Now, with the ‘Cabezón’ on the bench and with the ‘Rabbit’ Pérez in his technical command, the ‘Cement Machine’ hangs the poster of choice to mark the Clausura 2021 of the Liga MXIt would be the highlight for the 1997 captain returning home as a manager to lead him to the glory of a new title.

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