Tour Águila 2019 got underway with an absolute belter between current Liga MX champions, Club América, and rivals Club Atlas of Guadalajara, hosted at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, home of LA Galaxy. Submerged in a sea of yellow smoke, it's a backdrop worthy of the next instalment of our ‘Framed’ series.
The passion of South America, transported north of the border and deposited securely in California. Tour Águila is the official U.S. tour of Mexican champions Club América, as they offer fans in the US the chance to watch them in action during the international break. The friendly fixture allowed both sides to stay sharp, while also affording an opportunity to many fringe players, with lots of key players not being present due to their international commitments.
The match itself was played with as much passion as the crowds demanded; the Eagles and the Foxes facing each other through swathes of yellow and a cacophony of noise, as Dignity Health Park became home to the Mexicans for the night. The game started as a tight affair, with the deadlock eventually being broken in the coolest fashion by a Panenka penalty from Jeremy Menez, giving Club América the lead. That was doubled in the second half, before Atlas came back into the game with two goals to secure a well-earned draw. Passion, pride, and Panenkas: this was a friendly that pleased all in the packed out Park. Yeah, just a friendly. Makes you want to see a competitive game doesn't it?
Photography by Jared Martinez for SoccerBible.
