Club América just snagged all three points on the road against Querétaro in their season opener, and while a win is a win, let’s be real, this was *not* pretty. It felt like they barely scraped by, pulling off the victory in a match that had fans of the once-feared Aguilas probably screaming at their TVs.
The “Shell” Is Showing Already
Look, it’s tough out there for América faithful right now. Nobody can blame them for the pre-season jitters because the front office really let them down. They allowed multiple important players to walk, then somehow managed to let André Jardine, who was their best coach in *decades*, just bounce too. This team, which used to be packed with firepower, looked like a shell of its former self out on the field. The starting XI was far from the dominant force we’ve known.
And it only gets tougher when you realize who wasn’t even suited up. Alejandro Zendejas and Luis Angel Malagon are sidelined for weeks with injuries, maybe back by September. Then you’ve got Sebastián Cáceres and Brian Rodriguez still chilling on World Cup vacation, though they should be back soon. The whole vibe before the season even kicked off was that it would be rocky, to say the least. This opener didn’t exactly calm anyone’s nerves.
Henry Martin’s Struggle and Cota’s Outburst
The game itself was a wild ride, and not always in a good way for América. Ramon Juárez got a head on the ball from a corner in the 10th minute, but couldn’t direct it. Cristian Borja sent in a perfect cross a few minutes later, finding Raphael Veiga unmarked, but Veiga’s header just didn’t have enough juice, and the Querétaro keeper punched it out. But then came the moment that made every América fan groan: a massive chance in the 22nd minute for Henry Martin. He got the ball in prime position, only one defender on him, and somehow, he just couldn’t put it in the back of the net. The Henry Martin from just a year ago would have buried that without a second thought. But the guy returning from injury? He’s slow in attack, not decisive, and it’s gonna take some serious time for him to get back to form.
Honestly, América was lucky. Querétaro had multiple chances in the first half, three from distance, and Rodolfo Cota, América’s goalie, had to punch them all out. You could literally see his frustration, yelling at his teammates for giving the opponents so much time and space for those shots. And who could blame him? His defense was letting him down big time. If Querétaro had finished any of those opportunities, América would’ve been down at halftime, no doubt.
Next up, América needs to regroup fast as they face Atlante at the Estadio Banorte. Querétaro will try to bounce back against Pachuca. América just snagged the points, but they’ve got to tighten things up, especially that defense, if they want to avoid a truly rocky season ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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