Game 15: Toluca 0 - 0 Pumas

Pumas fans must find it hard to come up with different words to describe the same kind of game that their team has been playing all season. Once again they entirely dominated the game against a Toluca side that was not even able to muster a single meaningful shot on goal. And yet despite plenty of chances, quite a few falling once again to Solari, they were unable to secure the win. Pumas are still believe it or not in a qualifying spot, second in group two after Pachuca could also only manage a nil-all draw with Puebla.

The match started on a cold night in Toluca, on a patchy pitch perhaps ravaged by frost. Bernal was back after his injury, and Tuca made two other changes, one enforced as Carlos Humberto González came in for the suspended Verón and rather surprisingly Iñiguez started on the left ahead of Sambueza. Toluca started without Sinha and played youngster Francisco Franco on the right side of defense.

The first fifteen minutes were charaterised by both teams feeling each other out, with lots of movement and action in the middle third, but little in the way of chances. But even at this early stage Pumas were the side creating the danger: a good Velarde run led to a free kick which Scocco hit straight at the goalkeeper while a long range effort by Leandro also ended up in Hernan Cristante's arms. And the Toluca goalkeeper was also in the action when a Franco error let in Solari who beat Cristante to the ball but the shot was smothered. The 38 year old keeper went down in the collision and was moving gingerly for the rest of the half.

The game then went quiet, as Toluca held the ball well without being able to create anything, and Pumas dropped back and let the red devils play in front of them. Then suddenly Pumas had a couple of excellent chances within a minute. First Scocco put a great ball through to Barrera who stepped through and shot against the far post with the keeper beaten. The ball rebounded to Solari on the penalty spot who predictably blasted over. Then Scocco, Leandro and Solari worked another opening for Barrera who fired it across the six-yard line, but Leandro was unable to get a touch.

During this period Barrera was finding a lot of space down the right, and Castro was now controlling the midfield allowing Leandro forward. It seemed as if Pumas were about to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Toluca were clearly missing Sinha, and when they went forward they were unable to find a way round Velarde and a revitalised Espinoza, with particularly C.H.González excellent in the middle.

Despite more good approach work Pumas were unable to create much more before half time. They almost created something for Toluca when Scocco sloppily gave the ball away and Vicente Guerrero beat a couple of players before being fouled by Moreno for the game's only yellow card. Although Armando Archundia was picky at times, he controlled the game well and there was never a need for more cards.

And that was half time. Lots of huffing and puffing from Toluca to little effect while Pumas created chances but were unable to finish.

Toluca needed to change something and at half time Carlos Morales came on for Franco which looked a good change. Sensibly Tuca kept the team which dominated the first half.

Within four minutes of the restart Pumas had a good chance. Unlike the days of Hugo Sánchez when you could rely on an ineffectual near-post corner, Pumas created a lot of danger from the set piece and here Solari mistimed his jump from a perfect delivery and missed when unmarked.

The university team were now clearly on top but still could not find the net as Barrera, Leandro and Iñiguez all had half chances they fluffed. And Toluca had their best moves of the game with Guerrero and Silva going relatively close.

On 63 minutes Solari missed another good chance from a Leandro corner, as his unmarked header was comfortably saved and then Solari optimistically claimed a penalty after blasting the ball at Silva.

Still Pumas pushed forward. Barrera and Espinoza were looking good down the right although Sambueza was finding it hard to get into the game. Barrera put in a couple of excellent crosses one of which Solari was unable to convert after cutting back unnecessarily while Toluca sat back more and more seemingly content with the draw. At the death Moreno had a clear chance from a corner by Sambueza but put it wide despite a lunge from Castro hoping to turn it in. And that is how it finished, in a result that obviously suits Toluca more than Pumas, but sets up what will be a do or die game against Pachuca in game 17.

One or two points. Firstly a flare was thrown onto the pitch in the first half and a man wearing a Pumas scarf was escorted from the ground by the police. One presumes the two events were connected but you never know. Secondly admission prices were double the normal amount (there were a few empty seats too). It would be interesting to know why this was but it wouldn't be a surprise if it was another example of the commercial exploitation of fans for financial gain.

Goals
None

Cards
Pumas: yellow: Moreno
Toluca: none

Player Ratings

Bernal 6 - really had little to do
Velarde 7 - some goods runs and untroubled at the back
Espinoza 7 - good going forward and worked hard in defence
Moreno 6 - solid but a couple of mistakes at the back and a miss from a header
González 8 - excellent on his 30th birthday
Barrera 8 - a handful all night - pity he couldn't convert his chance
Leandro 8 - always involved
Castro 8 - controlled the midfield
Iñiguez 6 - not great but his pace troubled the defense
Scocco 7 - faded a bit but plays well in the hole
Solari 5 - cannot afford to miss so many chances
Sambueza 6 - didn't get much ball but ok
Palencia 5 - really looks off the pace

Tuca 6 - I'm puzzled by Iñiguez staring over Sambueza, and I still see no merit in Paco-Solari up front

Elsewhere in Mexico

Toluca stay top of group one but Jaguares moved closer to Pachuca and Pumas with a 3-1 win in Veracruz. Atlante confirmed the second qualifying spot in group two behind Santos by beating América in Cancún, and América must now hope for repechaje. Meanwhile San Luis and Chivas hold the qualifying places in group three winning against Monarcas and Monterrey respectively, Cruz Azul falling back after amazingly losing at home to Tecos.

Next Up
A must-win home game against Veracruz. If Pumas win and since Pachuca play Jaguares they would just need a draw in Pachuca to qualify.