July 10, 2010
CONQUERING THE CLASICO
Early goals give Club America 2-1 win over Cruz Azul

PASADENA, Calif.---Two goals in a two-minute span were all Club America needed to hold off Cruz Azul 2-1 in the Lucas Oil Clasico Jovan at The Rose Bowl Saturday night.

Las Aguilas took command of the game in the 36th minute, when Matias Vuoso ran onto a ball from Daniel Montenegro that came over the top from the other side of midfield. He took two touches in full stride and put it into the side of the net.

Less than a minute later, Montenegro made it 2-0, scoring on a cross from Israel Martinez with a splendid midair half-volley from inside the penalty area.

Club America held a 2-0 lead until two minutes into stoppage time, when the Cementeros’ Christian Gimenez curled a 30-yard free kick to just inside the left post.

Club America goalkeeper Armando Navarrete kept the game scoreless in the first half, with two big saves. In the 25th minute, he dove to push a header by Cesar Villaluz wide. A minute later he punched out a shot by former Derby County striker Emanuel Villa. Villa’s follow up shot went just wide.

Villa came close to scoring in the 77th minute, but Navarrete parrieed his shot over the bar at the right post. The Club America goalkeeper made a stop four minutes later on a 10-yard shot by Javier Orozco.

Cruz Azul continued to press late in the game and, in the 84th minute, a header by Julio Cesar Dominguez went wide. Villa had another attempt in the 88th, but his shot didn’t have much on it and was easily stopped by Navarrete.