Interliga Comes to a Close Wednesday

A week and a half of Interliga end Wednesday with the tournament's finals at Home Depot Center.

Through the two matches (starting at 9 p.m. Eastern), México will identify its final two participants in the 2010 Copa Libertadores.

In the night's first game, Group B-winning Puebla will face Estudiantes Tecos, runner-up in Group A.  Puebla won their first two matches of the tournament before losing this weekend to Monterrey.  Tecos went 1-1-1, recovering from an opening loss to Atlante to make the final.

The night-cap - and main event - sees the tournament's best team (Club América) pitted against the Apertura champions (Monterrey).  It's a match-up of two teams that were expected to win their groups, but with Monterrey stumbling to two draws to open Interliga, now only one of the two teams will make Libertadores.

Even though they are undefeated in Interliga, Monterrey has disappointed.  They went 1-2-0 in Group B but scored only three goals.  Of those three goals, two were scored in second half stoppage time.  Those goals count the same as first minute thunderbolts, but they beg questions about Monterrey's focus and motivation through the body of their matches.

The Rayados will need to surmount those problems if they are to overcome the Aguilas, who have been the most impressive team in the tournament.  Club América won their first two matches with an aggregate 6/1 goals ratio.  They got the draw they needed in the third match, winning Group A.

Club América forward Salvador Cabañas is the tournament's leading goal scorer (four) and may be playing his last game with the club.  Rumors have connected him to Sunderland AFC in England, with Cabañas potentially making the same jump that former Rayado Humberto Suazo made last week (when he moved to Real Zaragoza in Spain).

Despite the goal-scoring haul, Cabañas has not been the team's best player; rather, it was Daniel Montenegro that drove América to their two victories.  Heading into Wednesday's final, "Rolfi" has been the tournament's best player.

One player that could challenge Montenegro for that distinction is Tecos's Rodrigo Ruíz.  

El Pony did not start Tecos's opening loss to Atlante.  Inserted into the starting lineup for their second match, he provided much-needed energy and recorded a goal and an assist.  Ruíz was also critical on the left wing in Tecos's draw with América, having the ball at his feet more than any of the other Estudiantes.

Ruíz will lead Tecos against a Puebla team that rolled through their first two matches before taking the third off.  The attacking trio of Álvaro González, Carlos Ruíz and Nicolas Olívera scored their five goals against Tigres and Jaguares.  That threesome was taken out of the starting lineup for the match with Monterrey.

Though Monterrey remains a talented side without Suazo, América's for makes them the favorite to beat the Rayados and qualify for Libertadores group stage.

Likewise, although Tecos has gained their form as the tournament's progressed, Puebla is the stronger side and should earn a birth in Libertadores first round qualifying.