To reach a dream match-up with Real Madrid in the FIFA World Club Championship in Morocco, the Western Sydney Wanderers must first defeat the proud Mexican Cruz Azul (Blue Cross) club.
With a couple of minutes before half-time in a fairly tepid Cruz Azul vs Toluca match in Mexico’s Liga late last year, I thought I’d try and beat the rush and nip down to the loo.
It must have been those pre-match tacos washed down with a number of those almost-too-easy-to-drink Coronas in a bar nestled in the street between Estadio Azul (Cruz Azul’s home stadium) and the world’s biggest bull-fighting ring, Plaza Mexico, in south-west Mexico City.
I just didn’t count on riot police standing in the way.
Now I knew that Mexican football fans were passionate. Last year a Cruz Azul fan killed his neighbour, who supported key rival Club América.
And Mexico’s elimination from this year’s FIFA World Cup with a dubious penalty from Arjen Robben seared the Mexican football-loving public just like the Italy penalty did against the Socceroos in 2006, with #noerapenal (it wasn’t a penalty) heavily (probably still!) trending on social media.
But that day, high up in the Cruz Azul’s oval-shaped home stadium in the visitor fan area, it had all been pretty tame.
The Cruz Azul supporters’ club ‘La Sangre Azul’ (The Blue Blood) was just starting to find its voice below us.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, and after futile conversations with riot police (akin to trying to persuade a bouncer at a club of your sobriety), we finally were granted relief.
I’m told that Estadio Azul stands out from many other stadiums around Mexico by how welcoming the fans are of visiting supporters, but making a bunch of visiting football fans wait to go to the toilet is like a red rag to a bull.
Cruz Azul went on to win the game 1-0, with popular Mexican-Argentine play-maker ‘el Chaco’ (Christian Gimenez) returning from injury to break the deadlock late in the game.
We really must have been sitting with trouble-makers, because they didn’t let us go for half an hour – until almost everyone had left the stadium.
This was my first experience of Mexican Primera División football.
Cruz Azul is known as one of the ‘big four’ of Mexican football.
Nicknamed ‘los cementeros’ (the cement-makers) or ‘La Maquina’ (the machine), the club has a proud working-class history, and a large and passionate fan-base.
Originally started as an amateur club in 1927 by the Blue Cross Cement company (which still owns and sponsors the club), Cruz Azul is historically one of the most successful clubs in Mexico.
They have won the Primera División 8 times (just behind Toluca with 10, Club América and Guadalajara with 11) and have won the CONCACAF Champions League 6 times.
Having scaled the heights of Asia, the Wanderers have struggled for impact in this season’s A-League, languishing at the bottom of the ladder after eight rounds.
Cruz Azul are in a similar position domestically this season.
After reaching last season’s final (losing to Club América), they’ve had a shocker of a season to date. They currently place 13th (out of 18) first division teams and will miss the finals (in Mexico, the top eight teams make it to the play-offs).
The Cruz Azul midfielder Gerardo Torrado acknowledged this week that the team hadn’t fulfilled expectations but was optimistic about his team’s chances in the FIFA World Club Championships:
“It’s a very good time to redeem ourselves with our fans, we know the importance of the tournament. It’s the first time Cruz Azul will play in this championship and we want to take full advantage of that opportunity.”
Careful not to look beyond the Wanderers to a potential match-up with Real Madrid, he nevertheless claimed Cruz Azul could “match it with any team”.
Cruz Azul will be looking to the FIFA Club World Championship to redeem themselves.
Beyond this tantalising Real Madrid prospect, the Wanderers will no doubt be looking to re-boot their A-League season as well.
As an expatriate with limited opportunities to watch our A-League live, for me this is a rare opportunity and (probably) the first time an A-League club will take on a Mexican First Division team.
I’ll be cheering on the Wanderers here in Mexico with a few Coronas – and safe, unimpeded access to the loo!
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