Game 7: Pumas 0 - 3 Necaxa

Video here.

After a week of optimism following the 7 points in three games last week, all the old Pumas failings reappeared in CU. Despite controlling large parts of the game and creating a fair number of chances, Pumas were unable to convert even one, while defensive frailties were exposed to give the team from Aguascalientes an easy victory.

The tormentors for Necaxa were Colombian centre-forward Hugo Rodallega (picture) who scored two, Ángel Reyna who got the other and earned the penalty, and two more familiar faces, veteran Walter Gaitán and ex-Puma Gerardo Galindo, both of whom made telling contributions.

In many ways the game was lost right near the beginning. "Tuca" had chosen to go with Jehu Chiapas at left back in place of Velarde who is on Under 23 duty (Iñiguez continued in place of Barrera). Chiapas had a very interesting game, looking lively and dangerous going forward, but (not unsurprisingly since as far as I know he has little experience at the back) a little naive when defending. It was this that led to the first goal after barely two minutes. Gaitán lifted a beautiful ball through for Reyna, but with no imminent danger Chiapas got himself into a bad position and a trifle unluckily clipped the Necaxa striker's heels. It was a definite penalty but Chiapas made no lunge, he just lacked the experience to get into the right position.

Soon afterwards Leandro was booked for a clumsy foul, and so was hamstrung somewhat in his ball-winning for the rest of the match. The start did not faze the university however and slowly they began to build their game. The early exchanges had slightly favoured Necaxa and they had a good spell after the goal, but by the quarter hour Pumas were pretty much in control.

That was the way it stayed throughout the first half. Chiapas and Scocco had a couple of long range efforts go close, while Solari spent the whole match it seemed missing chances. Meanwhile Bernal was not called upon at the other end until just before half time when, against the run of play, Necaxa grabbed the second. Reyna had switched flanks to the left-hand side and after receiving the ball from Gaitán who had been fouled by Verón (Archundia played an excellent advantage) he skipped inside Espinoza and González to finish neatly in the near corner.

The incisiveness of the Necaxa finishing was in complete contrast to the Pumas attack, as the game continued in the same style after the break - Pumas in control, and creating chances, but unable to score. The away team showed how to put the ball in the net once again after half time when Leandro gave the ball away badly in midfield and Galindo fed a lovely ball through to Rodallega (imaginatively known as "Rodagol") who demonstrated two qualities missing from Solari's game (pace and skill) to fire past Bernal for the third.

Pumas kept pushing forward and Sambueza, initially with excellent support from Chiapas, caused a lot of problems down the left. One cross from Chiapas found Iñiguez unable to finish beaten by the bounce of the ball. And Solari and Scocco both had headers which they placed in the only part of the goal where "el Gato" Ortiz could save them. Solari also missed an excellent chance when he miss-controlled with his chest and then shot into the side netting when well placed.

"Tuca" made some strange changes late on. Castro had been imprecise in midfield so he brought on Gerardo Espinoza with Castro moving to right back and Fernando Espinoza to left back. It seemed a lot of movement to make for the change. Similarly when Paco Palencia came on near the end for his first league action since his operation it meant Scocco moving to left wing and Sambueza to the right, neither of which looked convincing. In the end Scocco nearly grabbed a consolation when his cross/shot struck the base of the post and Palencia was unable to put in the rebound.

It was not altogether a bad performance from Pumas, but if they are to challenge for the Liguilla they are going to have to score more freely. They now lie bottom of group 1 and in 15th place overall, but luckily they are still in the hunt following Pachuca's 4-1 humbling by Cruz Azul.

Goals
Rodallega (3 minutes)(pen) 0-1
Reyna (41) 0-2
Rodallega (52) 0-3

Cards
Pumas: yellow: Leandro (poor tackle), Verón (body check), Scocco (talking back), Chiapas (high-footed lunge)
Necaxa: yellow: M. de la Cruz (two-footed tackle), J. De La Cruz (not retreating at free kick), Viades (body check)

Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - cannot be blamed for any of the goals, but in between had virtually nothing to do.
Espinoza 5 - failed to combine effectively with Iñiguez in attack. Ok defensively.
González 5 - exposed for lack of pace.
Verón 6 - brought the ball out well but did not impose himself.
Chiapas 6 - 5 in defence and 7 in attack.
Leandro 6 - got himself booked early but worked hard and got forward on occasion, particularly down the left
Castro 5 - given a lesson by old teammate Gerry Galindo, he will have better days.
Iñiguez 4 - barely did anything until he was taken off near the end.
Solari 4 - I am glad the crowd likes him otherwise he would be under real pressure after a very poor showing in front of goal.
Scocco 5 - curiously subdued and frustrated
Sambueza 8 - by a mile Pumas' best player, caused the Necaxa defence no end of trouble and linked well with Chiapas.
G.Espinoza 5 - not bad he played solidly and his lack of pace was not exposed
Palencia - only had time to do a couple of nice runs and miss a chance.

Tuca 5 - right to play Chiapas and unlucky it didn't come off, although I was a little surprised with his late substitutions, not so much for the players he brought off and on, but for the positional complications.

Elsewhere in Mexico
Veracruz sunk deeper into relegation trouble losing 3-2 at home to Toluca for whom Manuel Maciel got the winner. Jaguares beat Tecos 2-0 in Tuxtla in an exceedingly drab game, while Chivas extended their unbeaten run coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against San Luis. Cruz Azul scotched notions of their over-reliance on under 23 players when a dynamic performance saw them despatch Pachuca 4-1 in their own back yard. In the late game on Saturday Atlante and Tigres shared a 1-1 draw in an intriguing match with few chances.

On Sunday Puebla exposed Morelia's frailties and played with vigour winning 4-0 in the Estadio Cuauhtémoc, with a brace from Uruguayan Nicolás Olivera. A 25-yard William Paredes strike rescued a draw for Monterrey after they were outplayed at home by Atlas. Meanwhile América's miserable run continues, despite a new manager, and they lost out 1-0 in the Azteca against Santos for whom Vicente Vuoso got the goal.

Chivas remain at the top of the general table with 15 points, and also at the top of group 3 ahead of Cruz Azul. Toluca lie second overall and at the top of group 1 with 14 points with Puebla second. Santos are third and lead group 2 from Monterrey.

Next Up
Tecos in Guadalajara on Friday night.