NEWS

Sunday we had a preview of the series between these two giants who are facing each other in a semifinal series for the fourth consecutive time. As everybody knows, last Sunday in Usulután Firpo defeated Aguila 3x1 in the last match of the regular season. But players, coaching staff, and fans of Aguila hoping the semis will be different. The truth is, our Bulls will travel to San Miguel, where they have not won in a couple of years, in high spirits, knowing very well that they are capable of defeating Aguila, that the defending champion is vulnerable, as FAS also demonstrated three weeks ago with a similar 3x1 victory over Aguila in Santa Ana. 

Aguila has lost two of its last three matches to FAS and Firpo on the road. However, the one they won was at home against Balboa, team which they thrashed by a 7x0 score. Aguila has been involved in the two most lopsided matches this season: both 7x0 wins against ADET and Balboa at home in San Miguel. Firpo will not have it easy. 

Aguila had the most potent offense of the tournament; their strikers scored 50 goals in 18 matches, an average of almost 3 goals per match. And it is not surprising that they have the scoring leader of the tournament in Mauro Nunez. They also have a good midfield in which young skillful Cheyo Quintanilla exalts. Maybe the only weak spot is their defense, which has been a bit slow in certain key matches (last Sunday against firpo, for example). But the signing of Dallas Burn star defender Jorge "Zarco" Rodríguez will help enormously. 

Our Bulls will answer with the second best defense in the league, only FAS, a team which did not qualify to the semifinals, was better in defense. The defense, anchored by Memo García and Mauricio Dos Santos, yielded an average of 1.16 goals per match (26 goals in 18 matches). The offense has nothing to be ashamed of -- our strikers scored 36 games, an averaged of 2 per match, good enough to be the third best in the league behind Aguila (50 goals) and Alianza (38). This achievement is even more impressive when taken into consideration Elías Montes' injury to his knee midway through the season. 

Our weaknesses? The keeper Dagoberto Portillo's lack of experience in big matches and the sometimes lack of concentration in the midfield, specially by Héctor Canjura and Santos Cabrera. When these two play poorly, Firpo does, too. The reason is because they are the spark plugs in the Bulls offense. Portillo has played well since he replaced injured star keeper Misael Alfaro, who suffered the second contusion of his career in the match against FAS in week 14. In semifinal matches against teams such as Aguila, an experienced keeper helps. 

Another weakness, at least for the first match, will be the absence of Santos Cabrera in the midfield.  Cabrera, the best Firpo player this season, accumulated his fifth yellow card against Aguila last sunday and will be suspended for one match.  Firpo appealed the suspension to the league, but to no avail.  

This semifinal series is up for grabs, just like the previous three, with two evenly matched sides, will be a battle. Check your heart monitors, folks, this will be not be a series for the weak hearted. Go Firpo! 

Firpo possible starters: Portillo, Dos Santos, Alvarez, García and González. Canjura, Martínez, Morán and Barrientos. Celio and Montes. And in the bench: Marcos Portillo, Hidzar Henríquez and Quintanilla in defense; Montoya, Mexican midfielder García, Monterrosa in the midfield; Zelaya and Durán up front. 

I will keep you informed... 

Next Matches: 
Apertura Tournament -- Semifinals (Aways Matches) 
Saturday, December 8 at 7 pm (Salvadoran time) 
   In San Miguel: Aguila vs L.A. Firpo 
Sunday, December 9 at 3 pm (Salvadoran time) 
   In San Salvador: Limeño vs Alianza 

Latest Results: 
Apertura Tournament -- Week 18 
Sunday, December 2 
   In Usulután: L.A. Firpo 3 - Aguila 1 
   In San Miguel: Dragón 0 - Limeño 1 
   In Santa Ana: FAS 1 - Metapán 1 
   In La Unión: Balboa 0 - Alianza 4 
   In San Salvador: Marte 3 - ADET 2 
 

• BRILLIANT ROAD WIN (11/26/01)

• BULLS CLOSE TO SEMIFINAL SPOT (11/17/01)

• CRUCIAL MATCH IN SANTA ANA (11/07/01)

• BULLS LIGHT UP MARTE (09/06/01)

• FIRPO TO VISIT ATLANTA (08/30/01) 

• FIRPO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!! (05/30/99)