Game 11: Santos 3 - 2 Pumas

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In a very even game marred by some rather odd refereeing, Pumas lost their unbeaten run while Santos, not without some trouble, regained top spot in the general classification after momentarily being overtaken by Atlante.

Pumas were forced into several changes due to injury, and as a result looked a little unsteady. Leandro had not recovered from last weeks knock on the thigh, and more surprisingly Espinoza was unavailable. This forced Tuca to revert Castro to right back, and people the midield with Alex Diego and Jehu Chiapas, with Barrera wide right and a slightly advanced Nacho Scocco. Unfortunately the momentum gained from the solidity of the Leandro-Castro axis in the middle of the park was lost, although both Chiapas and Diego acquitted themselves well.

Yet again the game was played with a pink ball, and this time I also noticed the little pink ribbons on the players´shoulders. Again, breast-cancer awareness is a worthy cause. It was also played in the hot afternoon sun, with temperatures of around 35 degrees, which made the efforts of both teams all the more admirable.

The game began very evenly, with both sides moving rapidly through the midfield area, but unable to penetrate the defensive lines. Santos had a chance very early on when their most irritating player Vuoso had a shot saved by Bernal, while at the other end Solari headed straight into the hands of Becerra. If anything, as the half progressed Pumas began to assert more control and the experience and calm of Veron began to influence Chiapas and Diego. By the time Palencia once again missed a good opportunity after being put in the clear through the inside-right channel (to be fair it was a good stop by Becerra) Pumas had gained the ascendancy.

And just before half time their control was rewarded by a lovely goal from Barrera. Making space for himself on the edge of the area he fired a low shot into the corner off his weaker left foot giving the keeper no chance. Meanwhile Ricardo Arellano the referee had booked Luduena for a clear dive (and not for his awful flat-top haircut), but just before half time he inexplicably failed to see a similar dive from Benitez after an unsteady charge out of goal by Bernal, and awarded a highly dubious penalty which Luduena converted. Clearly if there was contact (which there was not) Bernal should have been sent off, but he received only a yellow. All in all disappointing refereeing, but it left the scores level at half time.

The shadows were lengthening in the second half and it became more and more difficult to see certain areas of the field. Santos started the half the brighter, but it was Pumas who took the lead again from a very nice solo play by Scocco, advancing into the area on the right, shrugging off three defenders, and putting the ball through Becerra´s legs after 52 minutes. But as so often this season Pumas got into a winning position and were unable to keep control of the game. Only three minutes later Santos were level after poor defending at the back post from a corner, as Benitez swivelled well to score from five yards out.

As the game moved towards its conclusion, with both teams working hard to get forward but creating few chances, the referee contrived to send two players off, Luduena for a very harsh deliberate hand ball, and Diego for little more than making a tackle. And so both teams entered the last ten minutes with ten men.

Pumas made three late substituions, bringing on Sambueza, Iniguez and Gonzalez, but it was a Santos substitue who decided the game. Santos brought on Peralta, who made a lovely break through inside left drawing Bernal out of the goal. Curiously of the three Pumas defenders deep in their own box, none thought to mark Benitez who headed home from the resulting Peralta cross with no-one near. Ultimately the lack of Leandro and the confidence of being on top of the table proved crucial for the Laguneros. Pumas, however stay second in group one after Pachuca´s loss.

Goals
Barrera (43 mins) 0-1
Luduena (pen, 45) 1-1
Scocco (52) 1-2
Benitez (55) 2-2
Benitez (83) 3-2

Cards
Yellow
Pumas: Bernal, Palencia
Santos: Vuoso, Castillo, Jimenez
Red
Pumas: Diego (2 yellows)
Santos: Luduena (2 yellows)

Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - a couple of good saves from long range shots, but his rushes out for the first and third goals were not well timed
Velarde 7 - untroubled and got forward on occasion
Castro 7 - his influence was missed in the middle but secure
Veron 7 - calm at the back
Moreno 7 - again unruffled
Diego 6 - good effort but he is not Castro (or Leandro)
Chiapas 6 - tried hard in the absence of Leandro
Barrera 7 - good but still think he looks better on the left
Scocco 7 - excellent goal but wish he had been a bit more involved
Palencia 5 - looked slow and he must finish when he has the chance
Solari 5 - looked what he is: a one paced forward who is moderately good in the air.
Iniguez 5 - tried hard down the right but with little joy
Sambueza 5 - didn´t see much of him after he came on
Gonzalez - only on for a few minutes

Tuca 6 - a good attempt to shuffle the team round after key injuries. Do we not have another right back in the squad? I think we should be staying with Castro in defensive midfield.

Elsewhere in Mexico
Atlante keep winning, this time in Veracruz, and so stay second overall and in group 2. Pachuca lost to Chivas, a good result for Pumas, while Toluca pulled away at the top of group one after beating now managerless America 3-1. Chivas and Cruz Azul (who beat Monterrey) were the big winners in group three and are now first and second there, and fourth and fifth overall.

Next Up
An eminently winnable home game on Sunday against Tigres.