A2006 Quarter Finals - Pachua away

Pachuca v Pumas
Estadio Hidalgo
25th November 2006

Video Highlights

This game gave us pretty much what we expected, but had quite an explosive ending.

Starting with Chupa up front, Pumas clearly were in the mood to draw the sting of this Pachuca team, who many describe as the best team in Mexico. They had won well in the semi final of the CopaSudamericana on Wednesday night, and came out all guns blazing tonight.

It seemed they had noticed that we concede most of our goals in the first 20 minutes or so, and had decided to gamble all or nothing. The high tempo of the game was of their making, and will suit us more, especially as all these games begin to take their toll on Sunday.

Overall we looked pretty good and solid at the back, a few scares, but as the match wore on we could see them fading. In the centre of midfield neither Castro nor Sancho could make an impact, and Pachuca were winning this battle. Late in the first half, as we were growing Rodriguez had a terrible foul on Parejita (no card), and from the free kick rebounds Sancho scored but was correctly ruled offside.

Going in at nil all we were satisfied, and really felt they had blown their chance, when the ref gave a free kick down by the corner flag – another awful decision. A well worked, and badly defended free kick resulted in a goal. This was very hard, and felt that we had weathered the worse of it, only to give this away.

Minutes later, however, a fine long ball into the box from Leandro was met superbly by Chupa in the air, who sent the keeper the wrong way and side-footed into the net. There was a strong suspicion of offside, but the pictures show he was clearly onside when the ball was played. A great goal. After this I really felt that from now on we could be the only winners, but 1-1 was a fair reflection, and a great way to go to the home leg.

Iñiguez and Scocco came on late, only for Iñiguez to receive two very very harsh yellow cards.

The frustration that our method of playing builds in the opposition showed at final whistle when “El Chaco” Gimenez started pushing and shoving Veron. RoRo Rodriguez had had an average game, but his passion for this team has been instantaneous, and he wasn’t having any of this. He came flying in and smacked Chaco right across the chops. Lovely stuff. A post-match sending off, but Bernal was on the bench for this game, which shows he is almost ready.

The Pumas faithful had been in amongst it as well up in the stands, and a plastic seat came hurling onto the pitch. Chupa Lopez, looking more than ever like a Watford player, sidled up to throw it off the playing area. Tuca, described the fight as “ a mans thing, a football thing”, and said about the crowd, “Como no te voy a querer aficion” – playing on the famous Pumas song, meaning, How Could I not Love You.

Ratings:-
RoRo – 7 – OK game, at fault for goal I felt. Good right hook

Velarde – 9 – MOM – another excellent game, so assured on ball, great at going forward, linking with Leandro, and kept the ship steady at our most problematic times. His duel with Chitiva was pivotal, and Efrain won it
Pikolin – 7 – decent game
Veron – 8 – As Tricky says, you expect it. also did a great job on Chitiva
Espinosa – 7 – another good game here for him

Parejita – 8 – I thought he hustled well today, not sure why he came off (subbed off 76 mins)
Castro – 6 – knocked off the ball too easily
Sancho – 6 – not commanding enough
Leandro – 8 – good game, real Leandro stuff, great ball for goal

Gonzaelez – 7 – ran and ran and ran and ran, never lets them settle
Chupa – 8 – low work rate again, but in there, and a very very well taken goal (subbed off 76 mins)

Subs
Iñiguez – 6 – very unlucky to be sent off
Scocco – 7 – always in it again.

DT
Ricardo Tuca Ferretti – 8 – got it spot on, except Scocco’s talents are wasted coming off the bench.

Cards:-
Pachuca
Mosquera - 17 mins

Pumas
Pikolin – 17 mins – typical bottle decision from ref, one each, when only Mosquera deserved one
Castro – 68 mins
Sancho – 78 mins
Iñiguez – 80 and 90 mins RED
Velarde – 87 mins
RoRo – 88 mins, plus expulsion after the event.
You can see from the times off those bookings, it was just the ref losing control, none off them really deserved a card at all. Pachuca got away with loads.

Goals:-
1-0 – 60 mins – From a free kick down by the right corner flag, Chitiva played it low into the box, where appeared, unmarked, Juan Carlos De La Barrera, and slotted it passed the flapping RoRo
1-1 – 64 mins – from half way into their half, Leandro played a lovely central ball, up popped Ariel "El Chupa" Lopez to score with his right peg.

Crowd:-
27,000 – CU Pebetero already sold out, we have had the highest average gate in Mexico this season, and the game at the Azteca was the highest gate anyway – 98,000

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
Chivas got a solid 2-0 home victory against a Cruz Azul who still look very assured going forward. Toluca will probably be happier with the nil all away than Monterrey, but Toluca’s decline continues. America’s 3-1 away win at Atlas practically ensures them a place in the semis…. but remember last year?

Next Up:-
Quarter-Final second leg, Pachuca CU Sunday 26th November 12 midday. Remember a draw overall will see us through.