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The 2015 Clausura final pits eight-seed Santos Laguna against six seed Queretaro. There was a time, a few months ago, when both of these teams were sitting near the bottom of the table, sliding into hopelessness. Then they both caught fire and now one of them is going to win it all.
Both teams favor a fast-paced, counterattacking style, which means we’re in for one hell of a ride. There won’t be very much midfield possession or randomly knocking the ball around in this game, methinks.
In this preview, we’ll give you everything you need to know about Mexico’s soon-to-be champions and runners-up.
Queretaro
Style:
Queretaro’s counterattack might be the most fearsome in North America, rivaled only by their opponents in the final. As soon as they get the ball, as many as six players sprint to the other end of the field, trying to overwhelm the opponent’s defense before it gets set up. Sometimes it works and they score, and sometimes it doesn’t and they just get really tired.
How they got here:
After spending much of the season on the outside looking in to the Clausura playoffs picture, Queretaro fired manager Ignacio Ambriz (just hired as the new boss of Club America) and replaced him with Victor Vucetich.
Then they ripped off a string of victories when they really needed it, winning six of seven to close out the season.
In the quarterfinals, Queretaro took the first leg from Veracruz, 2-1, and drew the second leg, 2-2, with Ronaldinho providing the free-kick goal that ultimately sent Queretaro through to the semifinals.
In the first leg of the semifinals against Pachuca, though, everything went to hell. Pachuca struck twice in the first half, and the deficit was compounded when Ricardo Osorio was sent off just before half. Then, when Ronaldinho was subbed off to make way for defensive midfielder Miguel Martinez, the Brazilian threw a temper tantrum and stormed out of the stadium.
The tactic worked, though, and Queretaro went into the second leg down 2-0 on aggregate with a puncher’s chance of going through. In the second leg, Queretaro needed to win 2-0 or better to advance because in Mexican football, in the event of a tie the higher seed automatically advances.
Queretaro got their needed result, going through to the final courtesy of goals from Angel Sepulveda and (!) Jonathan Bornstein.
How they can win:
RUN! They’re going to have to run Santos’s midfielders ragged with the counterattack, and capitalize if/when they catch the defense napping.
How they can lose:
If Santos’s counterattack proves to be better than Queretaro’s counterattack, life could be interesting for Queretaro, who have the advantage of a better defense. They need to pay special attention to Djaniny, who’s been wreaking havoc on the left wing all playoffs.
Key player:
Ronaldinho, by default. The oft-maligned Brazilian scored a brilliant goal in the second quarterfinal leg and also did this but then threw a hissy fit when subbed off in the semifinals and spent the second leg on the bench (albeit with much more team spirit than the previous outing).
I hate to say this, but Queretaro have looked better without him. He’s a good enough passer to play a deep-lying midfielder who facilitates the counterattack with ball movement (think Iniesta and Xavi for Barcelona), but he can’t play there because he has no interest in defense. He also has no interest in running, so he can’t get out on the counterattack with the rest of Queretaro’s attacking players.
If Ronaldinho wants to have to have any sort of impact on the final, he’s going to have to run his ass off, but I don’t think he’s fit enough for that.
Santos Laguna
Style:
They like to counterattack as much as Queretaro do (they had the least amount of possession of any team this season), which means this is going to be one highly entertaining final.
How they got here:
Santos finished the season on a high note, but their climb up the table was more steady and prolonged than Queretaro’s rapid ascent.
In the quarterfinals, it looked like Santos would likely fall to Tigres, who boasted the best record in Liga MX this season. Santos found their way past Tigres, though (possibly because Tigres was taking it easy in order to make itself more competitive for the Copa Libertadores, but whatever), drawing the first leg 1-1 and winning the second leg 1-0 via a 69th minute goal from Cape Verde international Djaniny Tavares.
In the semifinals, viewers braced themselves for an onslaught from Chivas, led by Marco Fabian, who was fresh off one of the more impressive hat-tricks in recent memory. They drew the first leg, 0-0, then blitzed Chivas, 3-0, in the second, with goals from Djaniny, Carlos Izquierdoz and Nestor Calderon.
How they can win:
Get Queretaro to give the ball up in the midfield, then find either Djaniny on the left or Andres Renteria on the right, and then it’s off to the races.
How they can lose:
When they find themselves with position in the midfield, they can’t slip up and ignite Queretaro’s counterattack.
Key player:
Djaniny. The Cape Verde international has been in fine form all tournament, scoring key goals in both the quarterfinals and semifinals. Queretaro is going to have to lock him up tight in order to win, which won’t be easy. He’s been owning the left wing lately, and would get my vote for player of the tournament so far (Marco Fabian would be second).
Prediction:
Leg 1 (Santos Laguna home, May 28): 2-1 Santos Laguna
Leg 2 Queretaro home, May 31): 1-1 draw
That’s right, I just picked the eight seed to win the Clausura. I just think Santos’s wings are too much for Queretaro’s outside backs, although if we see some vintage Ronaldinho magic that’ll be a victory for everybody. Either way, should be fun.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
