Game 9: Monarcas 0 - 3 Pumas

It has been a long time coming, but finally Pumas have got a big win. They have not been outplayed in any game this season, but poor finishing and lack of concentration at the back has cost them. Well not this Saturday in Morelia. By the fifteenth minute they were two up and controlling the game comfortably.

Tuca started the game with the now standard looking team, only this time without Paco - Gerardo Espinosa is rightly out of favour and Castro has been excellent at contención. Barrera also keeps his place after some lively displays recently and the UNAM team went in with two wide players, a sleek looking Iñiguez playing down the right.

The early stages were fast, and Pumas got the perfect start when a Leandro free kick down the left was allowed to bounce across the goal dangerously for Verón to appear at the back post and beat Muñoz with a powerful header. Morelia responded with Solari having to head against his own bar only five minutes later after a tricky free kick from Martínez, but Pumas seemed to have control of midfield and by the fifteenth minute had control of the whole match, when Barrera bagged his first senior goal with a neat turn and finish on the left side of the six yard area.

The only real bad news for Pumas for the whole of the rest of the first half was an injury to Scocco, who although he struggled through to half time, was unable to continue in the second half. He was replaced by Pablo Bonells who proceeded to have his best game for Pumas and looked far more assured on the ball than at any time in his short Pumas career. He clearly needs game time and I think we might see some of his promise fulfilled.

The second half was completely controlled by Pumas, playing in blue for the first time this season. Leandro and Castro were able to contain the dangerous Arce, and Landin and Wanderson were well marshalled by Moreno and Verón, Moreno feeling particularly aggrieved at picking up a yellow for a tackle where he made no contact. Castro hit the bar with a free kick before Solari finally put the game to bed with his 6th goal of the season, from a lovely Bonells through ball. Although Solari is no Alfredo Moreno (San Luis) or Giancarlo Maldonado (Atlante) it is not a bad return from a static striker with no pace. He clearly has a goalscorer's nose.

It was also nice to see the return of Sambuesa who came on for the last few minutes in place of Barrera.

There was a rather strange end to the game with no time being added. This after the game was stopped for about four or five minutes after flares wee thrown onto the field by Monarcas fans after about 81 minutes. Is there a rule about adding time or was this just a mistake? In any case you can see the incident here.

Goals
Verón (7th minute)
Barrera (15)
Solari (79)

Cards
Yellow: Pumas - Castro, Moreno
Morelia - Carrasco, Arce
Red: Morelia - Romero

Pumas are now third in group 1, only a couple of points behind Pachuca, and are above America in 7th place in the general classification.

Player Ratings
Bernal 5 - virtually nothing to do.
Espinosa 6 - continues to grow into the right-back role.
Velarde 6 - not his best game but rarely troubled.
Verón 8 - oozed authority and well taken goal.
Moreno 7 - looks comfortable alongside Verón.
Castro 9 - pure quality.
Leandro 8 - he and Castro controlled the midfield.
Barrera 8 - lively and caused the defence a lot of worry.
Iñiguez 6 - looks fit and has pace, but ball control let him down on occasion
Solari 6 - nicely taken goal, but always looks off the pace (until he scores)
Scocco 5 - subdued but his injury didn't help
Bonells 6 - battled well - a sound game
Sambuesa and Diego - only a few minutes each.

Tuca 7 - managed the game well despite looking enraged when winning two nil and controlling things.



Elsewhere in Mexico
Atlante continue to concede a two goal lead and then pull it back, this time drawing in the estadio azul. Santos remained top with a 4-1 stroll in the park against Puebla, while big guns Chivas, America and Pachuca all lost. Toluca's victory over Chivas takes them to the top of group one, Santos and Atlante head group two, while San Luis move to within a point of Monarcas at the top of three, thanks to two Moreno goals.

Next up
Pumas entertain lowly Atlas in CU. Atlas have struggled since Guardado's departure for Deportivo La Coruña and have not won this season. Surely though they can't be as bad as Tecos?