Blue and gold pride; Pumas beat América in the capital classic

In football there are hobbies that are transmitted from parents to children. For hundreds of those who attended the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium yesterday, the Pumas shirt summarizes their happiest moments. Although they have not won a title in the League for more than 13 years, the university students made the capital classic against América a collective party in which families, friends and people of all ages wearing the Auriazul shirt celebrated the 1-0 victory with the goal of the Peruvian Piero Quispe.

The essence of this party is still reflected in the streets. You don’t need any special tools, just the desire to be there, a t-shirt and a wide repertoire of songs. It is a meeting that represents the way of being of each hobby, that certainty that you live how you play anywhere in the country. Americanists usually do it to the rhythm of the Let’s go, let’s go America!their favorite song since the 90s. On the other hand, the Auriazules remember Goya, but also their well-known presumption of paternity. “The puma does not have a wife / the puma does not have a husband / but he has a son p… who dresses in yellow.”

On nights like yesterday, the value of the fans does not lie in social classes, but in what they are capable of transmitting in the stands. Each one honors the colors of their club. Although the game did not do them justice at times, the appropriation of the environment was complete. Drums were heard, giant curtains appeared and the players, who competed at the end in the rain, looked around more than once each time the floor shook. The football language was once again the same for everyone.

With the referee’s whistle, América and its figures tried to gain ground at the beginning. However, the attack that was talked about in the previous days and that everyone wanted to see did not appear. The only element that came close to that was the Colombian Cristian Borja with a couple of quick advances along the wing, which only served to provoke lamentations from his teammates. In the midst of a physical battle, which included kicks and pushes, that feeling of competing in a classic as if there were no tomorrow was continued to be found in different sectors.

Sin boleto ni Fan ID

Nearly 830 police officers, with 84 patrol cars and an ambulance from the Rescue and Medical Emergency Squadron, were deployed by the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City, but, as usually happens in large concentrations, men and women passed through the streets. They challenged the order, trying not to follow the rules. Several of them entered the visiting header without presenting a ticket or proving their registration in the Fan ID system, due to logistics that caused crowds.

It was also no coincidence that referee Fernando Hernández responded to the complaints of coach André Jardine with the warning to send him off. In one of those theatrical images, the Brazilian lowered his head when the Peruvian Piero Quispe entered from the left wing and finished with his left foot against Luis Malagón, after a poor start by the American defenders (minute 19). The 23-year-old midfielder celebrated his work by showing his tongue at his rivals, right on the side where the Monumental bar showed a flag with the legend It’s not a classic in reference to this rivalry.

The hangover in Coapa

You cannot understand the weight of victory in a duel like this, without considering its influence on the following days. In América, the result struck pride, it was the consequence of a team that does not find a way to reduce its rivals when playing at home and whose week will be a new problem. Unlike other customs that showed a majority of empty seats, yesterday the fans in the capital were close to being full at the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium, where loud whistles accompanied the two-time champion.

With just one long-distance shot from Rodrigo Aguirre and the response from Chino Huerta, who missed a one-on-one against Malagón, the last actor of the night was the central referee. For unclear reasons, Hernández added nine minutes of compensation and, in that time, Paraguayan Richard Sánchez received the red card for failing to find the equalizer. Those from UNAM, with their chests inflated with pride, closed date 10 in fifth place with 19 points. Much lower, in 11th place, the Eagles finished outside the playoff zone with 13 points.

At the exit of the stadium, a couple of American fans got into a fight in the stalls area with Pumas fans, who were left bloodied, despite the presence of police officers. There were no arrests.

In the heat of victory, Argentine coach Gustavo Lema highlighted the personality of his players to win a classic that arouses so many passions. Winning this match is sensational. Since we have been in this club, we repeathe said in reference to last season’s victory. It seemed hasty to me to believe that we were in a crisis. We faced the two-time champion team and they didn’t hit the goal. The people were fantastic. I saw many celebrating, it was something we needed.