QF 1st Leg: Pumas 2 - 0 Toluca

See the goals here.

First half highlights here. Second half here.

After dominating this opening leg of the quarter-final against Toluca, Pumas nevertheless had to rely on two controversial goals to give themselves a cushion going into Sunday's return at the Bombonera. Nacho Scocco was the hero with the two goals, while Rubens Sambueza was the other star. For Toluca, Zinha is banned from the second leg after being sent off.

Pumas started with a now familiar line-up, González continuing to deputise for Verón who had only just returned from international duty. Zinha started for Toluca, but Da Silva was out and Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez was on the bench after a long trip back from South America. Toluca started slightly the better. Although Pumas moved the ball around confidently it was the "red devils" who were the more incisive, Adrián getting in a dangerous 3rd minute cross which Moreno blocked, and a Toluca free kick ten minutes later deflecting off Sambueza onto the foot of the post with Bernal stranded.

Toluca kept pushing forward but it was then that Pumas struck. A good cross in the 17th minute by Sambueza cleared the front post defenders and Barrera pushed it down for Scocco to fire home from 8 yards. There was a lot of polemic about the goal as some people felt that Barrera fouled De la Torre as he set up Scocco. The TV phone-in had exactly 50% saying the goal should stand and 50% that it should be disallowed. It was a marginal decision: the defender bent down and fell over, and Barrera did make contact with his hip. Let us just say that it was a stroke of good fortune for Pumas that the goal stood.

After the goal Pumas stepped up the pace, and began to mark tightly when Toluca had the ball. Sambueza in particular was causing problems as he shot narrowly over and served an inviting cross that Solari couldn't quite get to. Both teams were pressuring the ball carrier, but Pumas were the more assured at holding on to it and the "choriceros" (sausage boys - I believe the area around Toluca is famed for its sausage) were struggling to find any kind of forward momentum. The Pumas midfield was dominating Zinha and Scocco was starting to find some space. He began to make the defence look frail with a couple of fine runs and a shot that went over from a Velarde throw-in. Nonetheless despite their domination the score remained 1-0 at half-time.

José Pekerman the Toluca coach clearly felt that a change was needed at half time, and Vicente Sánchez replaced Carlos Morales. For the first few minutes of the second half Toluca gained the upper hand, but were unable to penetrate a resolute Pumas defense with Moreno and González outstanding. But their second good period of the match preceeded conceding their second goal. Scocco and Sambueza worked hard to keep the ball in down the left, then Scocco broke clear and ran strongly into the box. His shot struck Gamboa's arm and a penalty was awarded. Again there was plenty of incident surrounding the goal. Firstly the award was made by the assistant referee after the the referee Francisco Chacón appeared not to have noticed the offence yet was positioned closer to the action. Secondly there was at least the suspicion of ball to arm rather than arm to ball. Gamboa did, however, dive across the line of the shot with his arms slightly raised, and on balance I think the penalty was a correct call. Not so goalkeeper Hernan Cristante whose remonstrations cost him a yellow card.

Meanwhile there was a dispute in the Pumas ranks as to who should take the penalty. It appears Solari is the official penalty taker, but it was impossible to tear the ball from Scocco's grasp and he converted confidently from the spot. The two were still gesticulating at each other as they returned to the centre circle. Not only that but Zinha had clearly lost his patience and he continued to make his opinions strongly felt to the referee after being booked in the centre circle. These further comments prompted Chacón to reach into his pocket for a second time and Zinha was gone, as well as ruled out of the return leg.

Pumas now had a two goal lead and were playing against ten men. It was a good opportunity to kill the tie off. But despite controlling the rest of the game and creating several good chances, they were unable to add to the total. First Scocco forced Cristante into an uncomfortable save from a long shot, and then Sambueza made a fantastic long run but the through ball was not read by Solari. A curiously quiet Barrera whose crossing radar had been off all night made way for Iñiguez who immediately made an impact down the right, while Rosada picked up a yellow for a clumsy foul on Leandro, and Esquivel came on for the tiring "el Jimmy" Giménez.

The last ten minutes Pumas pushed forward. Scocco appeared to have run out of steam, but Sambueza perservered looking fresh. Then Chiapas replaced him and Palencia replaced Scocco. The changes made a difference: Paco should have had a penalty when clearly fouled in the box but the referee was well behind play. And then Cristante made a superb save from a Leandro free kick which was headed for the top right corner. Iñiguez was also creating all sorts of problems down the right hand side.

Still none of it came to anything, and so Toluca will still go through if they beat Pumas by two goals on Sunday.

Goals
Scocco (17 minutes) 1-0
Scocco (54)(pen) 2-0

Cards
Pumas: none
Toluca: yellow: Cristante (complaining to the ref), Rosada (foul from behind); red: Zinha (two yellows as Cristante)

Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - not much to do
Espinoza 6 - looked a little uncertain at times
González 8 - very assured (will Verón get back in the team?)
Moreno 8 - excellent performance
Velarde 7 - defended well and linked to Sambueza
Castro 8 - worked superbly with Leandro
Leandro 8 - a couple of good shots
Barrera 6 - not one of his better days but one excellent run
Sambueza 9 - a constant threat behind Pumas best work
Scocco 9 - selfish but skillful and difficult to contain
Solari 6 - lack of movement a problem. Hope there is no permanent rift with Scocco.
Iñiguez 8 - always a danger
Palencia & Chiapas - didn't see much but Paco looks sharper than he has.

Tuca 8 - has got the team working well. Iñiguez substitution good.

Other Quarter-Finals
Pumas were the best of the home teams in the quarter-final first legs.

Atlante, despite missing top scorer Maldonado (playing for Venezuela) take a 1-0 advantage back to Cancún after an early Gabriel Pereyra goal gave them victory in the Estadio Azul. There were also two sendings-off and ex-Puma David Toledo rattled the bar with a second-half shot.

Meanwhile in the Estadio Lastras Ramírez in San Luis Potosí, Chivas came away with a 1-1 draw thanks to a first-half effort from Sergio Santana. San Luis equalised in the last minute through goal machine Alfredo Moreno. Ex-Pumas midfielder Gonzalo Pineda was sent off (rather harshly) for two fouls.

Morelia will have to win by three goals in Torreón on Sunday if they are to progress after losing 0-2 to Santos. Castillo scored early on and Ludueña made it two after scoring from a free kick that should never have been given. For Monarcas Landín had a goal disallowed (correctly) for offside.

Next Up
The second leg in the Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca on Sunday.