Mexico

Liguilla Preview: Morelia vs. Santos

Morelia's rock-solid defense will be tough for Santos to get past but the club will have an edge in the first leg, as it will be played in their new digs, the TSM.

Nov 19, 2009 9:35:05 AM

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Hugo Droguett- Morelia (Mexsport)

Teams

Morelia finally pieced together a strong season. After struggling through recent years, Morelia have reached the Liguilla for just the second time in seven seasons. Monarcas did it a bit surprisingly too, having the best defense in the league.

Their reward is a trip to Santos Laguna for the first leg. Santos are hoping to claim their first playoff win - and first win in a meaningful game - at their brand-new stadium, the TSM.

MORELIA

Record: 10-4-3, 33 points. Goals scored: 31. Goals allowed: 15.

Key Players: Aldo Leao Ramirez, Hugo Droguett, Luis Gabriel Rey, Miguel Sabah

Update: Morelia kept consistent through out the regular tournament. The missing link that Morelia needed came during the off season. The signing of Luis Gabriel Rey has done wonders to Morelia. Las Monarcas had only four losses in the season but they were not embarrassing ones. The team boasted the third best attack in the league with 31 goals in the season. Morelia also qualified with the best defense which only allowed 15 goals in 17 games.

Outlook: Morelia will get past San Luis with ease. This team has enough to make it to the final but will fall short in the semis.

SANTOS

Key Players: Oswaldo Sanchez, Carlos Darwin Quintero, Daniel Emmanuel Ludeña

Update: Santos finished in sixth place on the general table. Their best streak came in at the Jornada 6 thru the Jornada 14 where they did not taste defeat. Overall they had some mixed results, but with enough points to get them through to the post season. Defensively the team did not do too well, letting in 24 goals. They managed to score 29 and were higher up on the table of overall team goals.

Outlook: The team lost momentum towards the end of the season. However, they had a new beginning with the opening of their new stadium and a good performance in the Liguilla would be a nice way to continue the inauguration. But it’s an uphill battle against Morelia that only let in 15 goals. The team looks to have a tough time in the first round of the Liguilla.

Apertura 2009 meeting: Way back on July 26, Santos and Morelia opened the Apertura 2009 season against one another. Oswaldo Sanchez made a big play, stopping a penalty kick with Morelia already leading 1-0. That allowed for some late heroics as Juan Carlos Mosqueda scored a late equalizer in the teams' 1-1 tie in Estadio Morelos.

Sylvestre Adame and Andrea Martinez, Goal.com

For more coverage of the Mexican Apertura playoffs, visit Goal.com.

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