A2006 Quarter Finals - Pachuca home

Pumas v Pachuca
CU
26th November 2006

Video Highlights

A bit of a disappointing end to the season, really. I was more than satisfied at nil all at half time, even if we had not seen much football. This Pachuca team is clearly excellent, but they really did not concern me. In the end, they scored a scrappy goal, we had a clear penalty on Velarde turned down.

The last twenty minutes was all Pumas, starting with a superb central ball from Velarde met brilliantly, strongly and bravely by Parejita, and all 55,000 people in the stadium, including Parejita himself were convinced that it was in. However their keeper, and man of the match, Calero had somehow stuck out his left foot and diverted it wide. An amazing save. Overall I was disappointed with how unurgent we seemed as the clock ticked down, but Scocco mis-controlled a ball in a good area, as he had Friday night, and Reinaldo had a great shot which could have converted his season, and his standing, but the post denied him. Scocco headed down for Gonzalez who could not quite reach it, and Reinaldo headed close deep into injury time. So overall I cannot bring myself to think we deserved to go through – but I barely feel Pachuca did either. At the close several players came over to both sets off supporters, and Parejita (sporting a fetching new box) threw each of his yellow boots and his shirt into the crowd, and led the last “goya” of the season. He’s a smashing lad.

Anyway, our objective this season was always to work against the descenso, and the Apertura and these quarter-final games have shown that we have the qualities necessary for a relegation fight.

Bernal – 7 – good solid return, very good effort with goal

Espinosa – 6 – decent (subbed off 64 min)
Pikolin – 7 – lots of effort, little to show for it
Veron – 7 – solid
Velarde – 7 – another good showing

Sancho – 7 – better than Friday night (subbed 83 mins)
Leandro – 8 – MOM – best of the day, also showed most ganas
Castro – 6 – much the same as Friday
Parejita - 7 - good game, could not believe his header was saved

Chupa – 6 – Tricky says he is quicker than Scocco – the one time I saw him run this season he did look it (subbed half-time)
Gonzalez – 7 – at least he ran a lot again

Subs
Scocco – 6 - half time - missed a good opportunity again, but about, and linked well with Reinaldo
Reinaldo – 6 – 64 mins – looked a bit fitter, linking better, hit the post. If that had gone in …..… well, if “ifs” and “buts” were pots and pans, there’d be no trade for tinkers
Alex Diego – 5 – 83 mins – nothing much

DT
Tuca Ferretti – 7 – credit it to him for drawing the most potent attack this season; lets not forget Pachuca are still reigning champions, and finalists in the Copasudamericana. However, attacking-wise he lacks something, and needs to make up his mind about his strikers. If he wants Gonzalez and Chupa, play them, but whoever he decides on they need 90 mins a few weeks on the run. Scocco’s bench-warming is clearly having an affect on his sharpness.

Cards:-
Pumas
Pikolin 37 mins – not warranted
Scocco – 52 mins – not warranted
Veron – 54 mins – not warranted
Leandro – 85 mins – not warranted

Pachuca
Cabrera – 13 mins – not warranted
Rodriguez – 50 mns
Chitiva – 57 mins – not warranted
Cacho – 59 mins – not warranted
Caballero – 89 mins – not warranted

Goal:-
0-1 – 53 mins – A far post cross from Chitiva was hit by Rodriguez onto the post, the rebound hit Pikolin, and fell to Gabriel Caballero, who hit it left footed into the goal. Bernal made a valiant effort to kick it off the line, but it had clearly crossed.

Crowd:-
55,000

Elsewhere in Mexico:-
A couple of exciting games, and two less so. Toluca pass by Monterrey 2-1, a loss that led the fat and sweaty Miguel “Piojo” Herrera to resign. His nickname means “nit” or “louse”, and I’m not sure why he is thus called. Cruz Azul gave a good battle to Chivas, the game finished 2-2, so Chivas go through. Atlas needed a big result at The Azteca to overcome the 3-1 home loss v America. At 3-0 up, three splendid goals, it looked like it was on. But Cuautemoc Blanco showed his class, as he did against us, and scored a nice goal on 70 mins. Two further came, to finish 3-3 on the day, 6-4 overall.

Next Up:-
Well, we are now looking to the Clausura 2007, and the first game will be Atlas at home. No date yet. As for the semi-finals, they will be a repeat of the summers Champion of Champions, Toluca v Pachuca, and the big Mexican classic – Chivas v America.