Beefed-up security keeps fans in check at exhibition

The violence that tainted El Super Clasico on July 3 was a distant memory during Saturday’s soccer exhibition between Monarcas Morelia of Mexico vs. Luis Angel Firpo of El Salvador.

A slew of police cars parked outside of Sam Boyd Stadium awaited fans upon entrance, while more patrolled the area, dashing any chances of a repeat 400-fan pregame brawl.

At the gate, lines piled at the check-in, as security checked bags and patted down attendees for fireworks and flares.

During the game, police officers walked between the red-and-yellow Monarcas and blue-and-white Firpe fan bases and on the field, too.

All in all, 85 part-time staffers and 60 police officers were on hand for the match.

The lone blemish from the game occurred with time winding down as a fan threw a beer cup at a referee.

Promoters promised tighter security after six people were hospitalized from fights during the America and Chivas friendly a week ago, and they delivered.

“You can be prepared, you can overprepared or underprepared, you have to find the right line,” Sam Boyd Stadium director Mike Newcomb said. “I think a lot of people that caused incidents last week were from out of town. When you do these soccer games, you really have to focus on the closest supporters and do a better job of following them from the parking lot.”

The game drew an estimated crowd of 4,000 — 10,600 south of El Super Clasico.

The chaos from El Super Clasico didn’t detract fans from attending Saturday’s friendly.

“These teams are a lot more family friendly,” said 31-year-old Monarcas fan Ricardo Magana, who brought his family to the exhibition. “Chivas and America fans are looking for trouble. That’s not the case with these teams.”

The biggest commotion occurred in the 76th minute when Juan Jose Govea headed a goal to propel Monarcas to a 2-1 victory.

Hector Mancilla netted Monarcas’ other goal in the 10th minute, while Dennis Alas scored Firpo’s goal.

Newcomb hopes Saturday’s low-key game proves El Super Clasico was an anomaly.

“A lot of the incidents from last week were from out of towners, and they gave the crowd of 14,600 a bad name for misbehaving,” he said. “We’ll move on and make adjustments.”

Soccer will return to the stadium in February when the Colorado Rapids face Chivas USA in the second annual Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge.