Top Mexican soccer teams get their kicks in S.A.
Part of preseason tour, weekend matches drew thousands of loyal fans
Chants and cheers from screaming fans clad in futbol club colors echoed across the mammoth soccer field.
Booming music blared across the Alamodome arena as devoted fans erupted in applause for the match between Chivas de Guadalajara and CF Monterrey. Players sprinted onto the field igniting a roar from the crowd.
Welcome to Pretemporada MX San Antonio 2021.
Justin Rodriguez, a staunch Chivas fan, was among the throng thrilled by the start of the anxiously awaited match.
“We’re the best loyal fans ever, no matter what, 100 percent!” Rodriguez, 29, said. “I’m ready to be with my brothers in the group!” Fabian “Fonzy” Cortez disagreed.
His love for Monterrey is so strong he’s risked ridicule from his parents, brother and cousins, who are all in the Chivas camp.
“We’re going to win!” Cortez, 24, yelled, eliciting eye rolls from his family.
“He’s crazy!” his mother Cathy Cortez, 49, said.
Primetime Sports and the Alamodome hosted the event that brought thousands out to witness the premiere Liga MX clubs’ first matches in San Antonio. The teams’ exhibition games were part of a preseason tour played in select American cities this summer.
Other cities on the tour have included Salt Lake City, San José and Mcallen.
On Sunday, 14,317 fans attended the event; Saturday’s match drew 27,160 people.
On Saturday, the first of the two matches resulted with Club América defeating Tigres UANL 1-0.
On Sunday, the crowd stood and applauded the teams as they walked onto the green turf, holding the hands of youngsters wearing protective masks, T-shirts, black shorts, white socks and tennis shoes.
Banners of fans from Houston, Dallas, Mcallen and as far away as Chicago stretched behind opposite goals. And beyond each goal, the fans of each team took turns filling the arena with thunderous roars.
Before the match, fans of all ages streamed into Lot B for Fun Fest, the pre
match event. At 1 p.m., more than 100 people were at the event that featured music, food and games.
Fans like Rodriguez lined up to take photos with a championship trophy, kick soccer balls and pose with club mascots. He waved his club flag as he joined his wife, Claudynee Garcia, 30, for a photo with Monty the Bulldog.
Following the team is a family tradition. Rodriguez was drawn to the club by his wife, who was born in Monterrey, and followed the team, just like her father, who cheered the team on for years.
Adriel Campos, 12, joined team Chivas at an early age. He wanted to see the players live in honor of his stepfather José Mora, who introduced him to the sport in 2011.
“I'm excited to be here today,” Adriel said, a Chivas flag draped over his
shoulders. “My favorite player is the goalkeeper.”
After taking a photo with a championship trophy, Adriel and his mother, Griselda Campos, 36, joined their cousins who they'd traveled with from Odessa. Among the Chivas faithful was one turncoat — Fabian Cortez, the true blue Monterrey fan.
His brother José Cortez, 26, jokingly called him a loser. His father, Sotero Cortez, 49, who watches
the games with him, shook his head. His mother, wearing a red and white jersey, smiled and waved her hand to dismiss his boasts.
Whichever team won or lost, it would be a long, five-hour ride back home for Fabian Cortez.
As they headed to the Alamodome, Cortez unfurled his Monterrey flag with pride. He was used to being the odd man out.