Photo Credit: Brandon Bleek
By Jonny Rico
Follow Jonny on Facebook and Twitter.
Club America has let its supporters down all year long when it comes to celebrating the club’s Centennial Year. Supporters of the club had been waiting for this special year for a long time and expected a little more from Mexico’s most successful club in terms of celebrations.
But the hope is not dead just yet. Club America can still make this a special and memorable year for its fans.
The year 2016 has brought with it one disappointment after another for Club America. It did have one bright spot when it won the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League title, making it the back-to-back champions and officially the region’s most successful team with seven CONCACAF championships.
But elimination to Monterrey in the Clausura league semifinals, plus ineffectiveness of the directors in the off-season when it came to big name signings, organizing a special friendly match against a top foreign club or even releasing a commemorative jersey all put the America fans on edge as the big Centennial season was about to kickoff in July.
October 12, 2016 would fall right in the middle of the Apertura season, the big day Club America fans had dreamed of. But with the lackluster performance from the men in suits, the celebrations would have to come from inside of the field.
Club America is use to having pressure to win everything it competes in. It comes with the territory of establishing itself as Mexico’s biggest team. But in this special year the pressure would be double. The goals for the Apertura season were simple: win rivalry matches, win the cup competition, win the league, don’t embarrass yourself at FIFA Club World Cup.
A 3-0 loss at home to Chivas Guadalajara did not sit well with the fans. A 4-3 win over Cruz Azul did not have the quite the same joy due to the fact that Club America had been trailing 3-0 at halftime. The slump that America were facing mid-season caused combined with the pressure of the fans caused manager Igancio Ambriz to lose his job.
In came Liga MX veteran Ricardo La Volpe to replace Ambriz. But problems did not stop coming. America, now under La Volpe’s direction were eliminated from the Cup Competition by Chivas in a dramatic penalty shootout. Once again America fans were left feeling the sting of losing a Claisico in its special year.
OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENGE:
As the year inches towards the end, time is running out for Club America to give its fans something to celebrate in its Centennial Year. But destiny has given it one last huge opportunity.
Club America finished the 2016 Apertura regular season in 5th place of the league table with 28 points. Right above it sits Chivas Guadalajara also on 28 points but one goal better in the goal difference department. As number 4 and 5 seed Chivas and Club America will now face off in the Apertura league quarterfinals.
Club America now has the opportunity to avenge the 3-0 loss as well as the cup elimination on penalty shootout. The first and second leg of this quarterfinal series will be the sixth and seventh time that America faces Chivas in 2016. They faced each other in the Clausura regular season where Club America took a 2-1 win at Estadio Chivas and they met once again in the Clausura quarterfinals. Both played to a 1-1 draw during the first leg followed by a 2-1 America win in the second leg to eliminate Chivas and advance to the semifinals.
Eliminating Chivas and advancing to the semifinals this season will not be enough for Club America. It will need to follow it up by moving on and winning the league title. Only then will the fans have something special to celebrate.
As an added bonus, if America does advance far enough and make the final of the Apertura season, it will have the opportunity to lift the trophy on Christmas Day. Liga MX stated before the season that if Club America were to advance through to the final, it would take a two week break from the time the semifinal round was completed in order for America to be able to travel to Japan and participate in the FIFA Club World Cup.
