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Veracruz native Jurado a real revelation for Tiburones

By Jahir M. Martinez

Veracruz's goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado stretches for the ball during the Mexican Apertura football tournament match against America at the Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, on November 24, 2018. (Photo by VICTOR CRUZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read VICTOR CRUZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Veracruz's goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado stretches for the ball during the Mexican Apertura football tournament match against America at the Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico, on November 24, 2018. (Photo by VICTOR CRUZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read VICTOR CRUZ/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Veracruz keeper Sebastian Jurado has been among the league’s best players through the early stages of the Clausura 2019.

Born in the port city of Veracruz on Sept. 28, 1997, Sebastian Jurado has been the talk of the Liga MX through the first six games of the Clausura 2019. That’s because he has been one of the league’s best – and busiest – goalkeepers.

Jurado plays for his hometown team, “Los Tiburones,” and the Sharks have not won a single game. In fact, the team has not even scored a goal. Even so, the goalie’s standout performances have allowed Veracruz to pick up 2 points via two scoreless draws.

The 21-year-old Jurado has played all 540 minutes for Los Tiburones, and has allowed only six goals. Last season, Veracruz gave up 40 goals in 17 games, an average of 2.4 goals per game.

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Jurado has been strong in the area and has pulled off several highlight-reel saves from point blank range. He has won 8 crosses and has made over 20 “crucial saves” on the season, quite a few of the acrobatic variety. His saves have kept Los Tiburones in games they didn’t deserve to be in.

The goalie’s two most notable performances this season were his last two games: Matchday 5 against the Chivas at Estadio Akron outside Guadalajara and at home against the Tigres last weekend.

The host Chivas dominated for large portions of their Feb. 4 match: 65% possession as well as 6 shots on goal. The Chivas had three clear chances to get on the scoreboard, but Jurado was up to the task, preserving a 0-0 tie. Jurado was the clear Man of the Match.

Last week against the powerful Tigres and their big payroll, Jurado faced even more shots. The Tigres let fly 24 times in all, 9 of which were on target. The young keeper stopped them all … until minute 87. The Tigres scored again in minute 90+2 for a 2-0 win, but they had to tip their collective hat to Jurado. It could have been a rout, but the kid made 7 saves and again earned Man of the Match votes.

His play has captured the attention of El Tri’s junior team coaches and the goalie was called up this week to a training camp by Under-23 national team coach Jaime Lozano. That team will train throughout the year ahead of October’s Olympic qualifying tournament for the Concacaf region.

If Jurado patrols the area with El Tri as well as he has been for Veracruz in Liga MX, we might be seeing the Tiburon goalie playing between the pipes for Team Mexico in Tokyo at the 2020 Olympics.

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