Monarcas of Morelia lead the Primera Division of Mexico after nine games, their continued presence at the top being due to a thumping 3-0 victory at bottom of the table Querétaro. The goals came from strikers Rafa Márquez Lugo, Miguel Sabah and midfielder Edgar Lugo, the result leading directly to the dismissal of Gallos Blancos' manager José Saturnino Cardozo, a harsh decision considering they reached the semi finals of the last tournament under his stewardship - I'm sure he didn't demand the sale of free-scoring Uruguayan Carlos Bueno, whose goals got them to such a strong finish in the first place. Cardozo has already been replaced by Argentinian Ángel David Comizzo, who is returning having only left the club during last season, such is the managerial merry-go-round in Mexico (a bit like Chelsea, maybe!).
At least Comizzo will have little fear of relegation, with Estudiantes Tecos falling further behind in the struggle to survive, after a 2-0 home defeat by new boys Tijuana. Los Xolos only need six points from their last eight games to ensure survival in their first season in the top division, which would be a tremendous achievement in a part of the republic with little or no footballing tradition (trust me, I live in Baja California!), though they should really be gunning for la Liguilla, only being four points off the lead and sitting in fifth spot. They'll hope to continue their fine form next weekend at home to América, who currently lie second after defeating Jaguares 2-0 in the Azteca. My Américanista brother in law has managed to procure a ticket for the game through a hospitality company, the price of which I won't embarrass him by repeating - suffice to say I paid less for an FA Cup Final ticket a few years back. The 33,333 capacity Estadio Caliente is sold out for the season, meaning tickets are as rare as hen's teeth and hence the rather poor pun which gives this blog it's name (I'm yet to be successful, by the way).
Other notable results from week 9 included Cruz Azul's 4-3 home win over Monterrey, which included a brace from Argentinian Chapo Gimenez and Omar Bravo's first for the home team at the ninth time of asking (against his old club to boot). Cruz Azul (nicknamed Los Cementeros after the cement company which gives them their name) are proving difficult to beat, though find themselves in ninth place after five draws and only three wins so far. Santos are the top scorers with 16, Oribe Peralta finally finding the shooting boots he mislaid at the end of the last tournament in time to score four in a fine 5-2 home win over moribund San Luis. Defending champions Tigres are third, Lucas Lobos responding quickly to a defensive error to fire home into the roof of the net to give the university side a 1-0 victory over Atlante. Pachuca remain in the qualfying positions despite a forgettable 0-0 in the Estadio Jalisco against lowly Atlas.
Elsewhere in the lower half of the table there were encouraging wins for Pumas, who ran out surprise 2-0 victors at Toluca, leading scorer Iván Alonso for once suffering a scoreless week, and more notably Chivas of Guadalajara, who came from behind to win 2-1 away at Puebla, a result being attributed to the "Cruyff Effect", the former chain-smoker and Dutch master having recently been appointed to the club in an advisory capacity. Next week they'll be tested against stiffer opposition, at home to Cruz Azul.
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