The head of Joan Reynoso and the kick of Angel Comizzo: the actors the last time the Blue Cross called champion in the Mexican league MX League Club León | 1997 Winter Tournament | SPORT-TOTAL

between Juan Reynoso i angel Comizzo not only is there a distance of more than 4 thousand kilometers (Mexico City – Lima), nor the present that places the Peruvian as the coach who matched an incredible streak in the MX League and the Argentine as the deranged coach who says he is not a magician after meeting his rivals in the Copa Libertadores; between the two — beyond that they were the ones who led to University in their last championships- there is a story that separated them more than 20 years ago: Blue Cross Vs. Leon, definition of the Winter Tournament 1997.

As if it were an armed script for a short film about the last weekend, the ‘Indian’ cut the questions asked in the interview -via Universitario play- about Palmeiras, Defense and Justice and the winner of the key between Gremi and Independent de la Vall, the teams they 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 must know that it is complicated, it is difficult, at the international level we are playing something else, it is another story. And, if we add all the health problems, plus the injuries I have. If someone is a magician, I’m a football coach, not a magician. “, Clarified the technician of the ‘O’.

Contrary to this statement, in a very different situation, the Blue Cross of Juan Reynoso took on the challenge of facing the Chivas de Guadalajara looking to enter the history of the MX League. And he got it. The 1-0 was enough for the ‘Cement Machine’ to reach the streak of 12 consecutive victories in the Aztec tournament, Which held only the Lion of 2019 and the Necaxa 1934-1935. Now, against Pedro Aquino’s America will go for the absolute mark, although the ‘Cabezón’ will miss the game to be expelled.

Thus goes the present of both Reynoso as of Comizzo. Consolidated versus questioned, a confrontation that, precisely, had its first chapter in the 90s in Mexican football, and by chance, located in the last official title of the Blue Cross, today leader of the contest who misses winning after more than 23 years of drought.

warm winter

If anything you can look face to face at the organization of Mexican and Peruvian football is that from time to time it changes format, name or structure. For 1997, for example, in Mexico it followed the example of Argentina and began to play with short tournaments (two per year). And while in Peru – like in Argentina – Opening and Closing were called to him, in the Aztec country were named as Summer Tournament (January-June) and Winter Tournament (July-December). In addition, they adopted the famous ‘Golden Goal’ for the definition phases.

In that season, José Soto played in Puebla, the ‘Chorri’ Palacios went on loan to Cruzeiro on loan from Tecos UAG, 1 Solari (Jordi, Jaume’s uncle, current Aquino coach) led Club America and Juan Reynoso was the captain of the Blue Cross. Merits of the big head? Runner-up of the season 1994 – 1995, champion of the Mexico Glass (1996) and the Glass of Champions of the CONCACAF (1996), Today renamed Concachampions.

In 1997, the ‘Cemeteries’ they were the ‘star’ of Mexican football. They had Luis Fernando Tena as coach, the goalkeeper was ‘Conejo’ Óscar Pérez, the Peruvian Reynoso played in the defense, Youngest child Galindo was the owner of the steering wheel and above of goleador his name was Carlos Hermosillo.

In the first half, Percy Olivares played on the left wing in Blue Cross before leaving for PAOK Thessaloniki FC in Greece, and for the second half of the year the challenge for the Blues was to improve on the ninth place they won in the Summer Tournament, where they were out of the League after adding 25 points as Atlético Morelia but with a worse goal difference (+3 against -3).

For its part, angel Comizzo he would play his third short tournament with Club León, where he had arrived in 1996 live from Banfield. The feline painting had been located one place below Blue Cross with 23 points in the short match that defined Guadalajara against Neza Bulls, leaving champion Kids in the Summer of 1997.

The ‘Indian’ was already giving shows at his matches. His experience and development in the arc gave much to talk about, although before and after the World Cup in Italy 90 was never called up to the Argentine team. like this, Cruz and Leon got to fight hand to hand in Winter 1997 of the Mexican league.

The regular phase of the match located to Leon in Group 1 next to Atlante, Veracruz, Athletic Celaya and Puebla; while Blue Cross to fall in Group 2 next to Kids of Guadalajara, Monterrey, Toluca and Tigers. Of the two, the Blues had a much more complicated group, although the requirement of the first phase was to finally face all the participating teams.

The overall table finished with Leon as the leader with 32 points after 9 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses; Blue Cross, Meanwhile, was escorted with 31 units, and 8 wins, 7 draws and 2 losses. The only chance they had to face again (they were 2-2 in the regular season) would be in a possible final.

And so it was. Blue Cross left behind Atlas (5-1 overall) and Atlante (2-1 overall) to reach definition. Leon, meanwhile, had a more complicated outlook and faced Toros Neza (6-4 overall) and America (3-2 overall) to reach the round-robin finals.

The matches that defined the 1997 Winter Tournament champion is a separate chapter. Emotions, goals, injuries, aggression and a written ending to a film.

Head and stitch

Juan Reynoso it was immovable in the Blue Cross. In the all-against-all phase he played 16 of 17 games, And he arrived with sharp chimpanzees and the captain’s ribbon squeezing his arm to seek to win the title with the ‘Cement Machine’.

Comizzo none of the 21 matches played by León between the first phase and the Liguillas were lost. The Argentine was a guarantee in the bow of the felines and longed to get his first title in Mexican football.

In the finals, Blue Cross arrived with a big drop. Carlos Hermosillo, his goal scorer, Who had scored until before the definitions 13 goals would miss the first leg at the Estadio Blau in Mexico City. The reason? Against Atlante he suffered a severe blow that fractured some of his ribs and he was unable to participate in the match.

the Blue Cross aligned with Oscar Perez, Guadalupe Chestnut grove, Jose Luis Sixtos, Juan Reynoso (C), Omar Rodriguez; Carlos Barra, Joaquín Moreno, Héctor Adomaitis; Benjamí Galindo, Julio César Yegros and Juan Francisco Palencia. And in response, Leon put his top eleven with: angel Comizzo; Ricardo Cadena, Carlos Turrubiates, Fabián Pratola, Sigifredo Mercat; Roberto Medina, Flavio Medina, Alberto García; Hernán Medford, Misael Espinosa and José Antonio Reinoso.

In the first leg, played on December 4, Benjamin Galindo in the 53rd minute took advantage of a penalty to beat the hands of Comizzo and bring the 1-0 lead to Guanajuato, on the return leg. The score basically remained in favor of the blues for the great performance of the defense led by Juan Reynoso.

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

Leon was able to equalize the overall score with both Missael Espinoza (53 ‘) and led the game in extra time, where Hermosillo was finally able to enter by order of Luis Fernando Tena. Under the shirt, the striker put on a bulletproof vest to avoid strong shocks that would affect the injury to his ribs.

While Reynoso and his teammates were fighting so that the locals did not reach the second goal, a play marked the final destination of the return match. Before the 100th minute, Carlos Hermosillo went to play a lost ball with angel Comizzo in the Leon area. The cruel play can still be seen on YouTube. After the collision, and with the attacker falling on the field, the Argentine goalkeeper kicked him from the floor and opened a wound on his face.

Referee Arturo Brizio ran to the penalty spot and was awarded a free kick Comizzo despite the aggression. It was 1997, no doubt, today this same play would be expulsion and many sanction dates.

To make the score 1 – 1, Hermosillo had to be helped off the pitch as an injury meant he was unable to finish the game. In that Winter Tournament 1997 the ‘Golden Goal’ was in force, Which a year later would define the key agony between France and Paraguay in the World Cup.

What did the Golden Goal mean? If Hermosillo scored from twelve steps, the game was over and Blue Cross he was crowned champion of the contest after 17 years (the last time he had been in the 1979-1980 season). The striker chose to open his foot to place the ball in his left hand Comizzo, Who preferred to throw himself to the other side and saw his fence defeated.

Televisa cameras follow the celebration of Hermosillo and the coronation of Blue Cross, And at the same time show how Comizzo he approaches the referee Brizio and applauds him close to the face.

“The biggest punishment you can do to a player is silence. The truth was there was no comment. In this whole tournament Angel was the figure of the team, he took us to this Final, he saved us many matches that we could have lost with spectacular saves “, Said Carlos Turrubiates, a Leon player and teammate last year Comizzo, In mediotiempo.com.

“I got hooked with Hermosillo”, Came to say later the ‘Indian’, main actor of all specials of the worst kicks in Mexican football. The play marked his career, as well as that of Juan Reynoso, Captain of this Blue Cross who had waited 17 years to become champion, and has since spent nearly 24 years waiting to return to the Olympics.

Now, with the ‘Cabezón’ on the bench and with the ‘Conejo’ Pérez in its technical order, the ‘Màquina cimentera’ hangs the favorite poster to win the Clausura 2021 of the MX League. It would be the summit for the 1997 captain who returns home as a coach to bring him to the glory of a new title.

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