Club America's Robert de Pinho flapped his arms up and down as he soaked in the adoration from the Aguila's faithful at Pizza Hut park. De Pinho was celebrating a goal via penalty in what mounted to be the final score of a 3-1 win against UANL Tigres Tuesday.
The Brazilian-born striker and his club want to continue to give their army of followers things to cheer about when fans from Los Angeles turn for InterLiga 2009 Group B action at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Friday. America-Atlas serves as the opener of a doubleheader, as America's bitter rival CD Guadalajara take on Tigres in the nightcap.
America fans like what they've seen from the club in InterLiga. After locking into a tie with Chivas in an entertaining match on Jan. 3, the Aguilas have shown a creative brand of soccer with goals in the tournament from Enrique Vera, Salvador Cabanas, Jean Beausejour and de Pinho.
America are in position to clinch the top spot in the group. Coach Ramon Diaz' team comes into the match with four points and a plus-two goal differential -- identical to Chivas. A win would give America seven points. Depending on Friday's results, America can finish group play atop the standings. A tie against Atlas could still put America in the next round.
America hope to carry the momentum they gained in the win over Tigres into Friday's match to help secure a slot in one of Sunday's finals. America outlasted outlasted intra-city rival Cruz Azul in a penalty kick shootout in last year's final to win InterLiga 2008. But before the Aguilas can celebrate more, they must beat an Atlas team that's staring at elimination.
Atlas are coming off a 3-1 loss to its intra-city rival Guadalajara. It wasn't the "Classico Jalijense" Atlas was hoping for.
They'll try to forget that match and take it out on the Aguilas. Atlas are winless in the tournament with a 0-1-1 record. But Coach Dario Franco remains confident.
"There is one more game left we must face," Franco said. "You got to play the games. Anything can happen. We have to play a perfect game to outscore America. It's not an easy task, but we'll try."
Atlas, who qualified to the previous Copa Libertadores, need not only a win but a flurry of goals against America to stay alive. They come into game with one goal in favor and three against.
Atlas earned a slot in last year's InterLiga finals with a coin flip that served as the final tiebreaker after they tied for second place in Group A with Toluca.
