Game 13: San Luis 3 - 2 Pumas

Video
After gifting an early two-goal lead to a competent San Luis side, then clawing their way back level, Pumas finally threw away all their hard work and gave San Luis a boost in tough group three. Amazingly Pachuca also lost so Pumas remain second on goal difference in group one.

The starting whistle had barely died away when San Luis went one up. Espinoza was caught napping down the left flank and Salinas put in a cross for Guerrero to finish with his head. Pumas started to reorganise but another 12 minutes later and they were two down - the ever dangerous Tressor Moreno breaking into Espinoza's channel again and crossing low. The ball was mis-controlled by Salinas but fell to "el Chango" Moreno who finished firmly past Bernal.

From this point in the first half Pumas struggled to gain parity in midfield, but Castro and Leandro did a good job of holding things together and the team started to look more solid. They even created a couple of chances from corners with Verón and Moreno going close. As they slowly gained the ascendancy a couple of chances also fell to Solari, one of which was a curious piece of play by the San Luis goalkeeper Martínez, who instead of trying to block a shot, just marked Solari until he made a mess of it.

Without ever looking fully convincing Pumas nevertheless got back into the game in the second half after a penalty on 51 minutes. Solari got free in the box, and was clearly impeded as he went to shoot. "El Tano" picked himself up to convert from the spot.

San Luis then came back into a match they had been sitting back on rather and in a play in which Bernal managed to injure himself by falling over without being touched, Tressor Moreno crossed for Salinas who managed to miss with a header when it was easier to put the ball into the empty net. Patiño came on for Bernal.

Iñiguez had come on for Sambueza, and ten minutes from the end it seemed as if he had saved a point for Pumas, firing in a close range header from a Barrera cross, but a free kick on the left in the dying minutes confused Patiño after a deflection and Alfredo Moreno bagged his fifteenth of the season for a hard-fought home win.

Goals
Guerrero (1 min) 1-0
A. Moreno (14) 2-0
Solari (pen)(51) 2-1
Iñigeuz (81) 2-2
A. Moreno (88) 3-2

Cards
Pumas: yellow: Moreno, Scocco; red: none
San Luis: yellow:Pérez, A.Moreno, I.Martínez, Valdez; red: none

Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - not at fault for the goals but looking creaky fitness-wise
Espinoza 5 - his worst showing of the season, at sea
Velarde 6 - tidy but San Luis's best work came down the flanks
Verón 7 - held the middle well
Moreno 6 - steady and a danger at corners
Leandro 7 - did a lot of tidying up and came into the game as it went along
Castro 6 - not as influential as one would like
Sambueza 6 - caused some trouble but needs to be more involved
Scocco 6 - got a bit frustrated
Barrera 6 - some good work but blew hot and cold
Solari 6 - got into good positions
Iñiguez 7 - made a difference when he came on
Patño 6 - kept tidily and not at fault for the goal
Chiapas - only on two minutes or so

Tuca 5 - don't think he tactically had an answer to San Luis's front three and Pumas were on the back foot.

Elsewhere in Mexico
In group one Toluca won again at home to Puebla and moved further ahead in group one. Pachuca are still third after losing to América. Santos qualified for the play-offs, beating Morelia 3-2 and Atlante look good for second in group 2 after drawing with Chivas. They and San Luis top group three with Cruz Azul just behind. Tigres meanwhile put four past Tecos in Monterrey.

Next Up
They don't get any easier do they? Cruz Azul at home - C.U. at 12 on Sunday.