Game 8: Tecos 1 - 2 Pumas

See video here.

While Pumas played little better than they did last week against Necaxa they managed to gather three points away from home against a limited Tecos side for whom Hugo Droguett was the only player to shine. Two goals from Esteban Solari (picture) gave Pumas the victory with "Chamagol" Sebastián González netting for Tecos.

Presumably because of a lack of fullbacks, Tuca started the game with Castro at right-back and Gerardo Espinoza fitting in at defensive midfield. Fernando Espinoza moved over to play at left-back as he had when his namesake came on last week. Marco Antonio "Pikolín" Palacios also got his first start of the campaign displacing Carlos Humberto González.

Tecos, unlike Pumas, have played regularly on a Friday night, and so there was little excuse for the limp first-half performance which handed the initiative to the university without testing the frailty of Gerardo Espinoza or the frail resolve of the forwards after their misses last week. It took just over 15 minutes for Solari to be handed the opening goal on a plate when Diego Jiménez made a total mess of a pass out of defense, and Solari picked up the ball and struck it confidently into the corner past Corona.

Nevertheless despite complete control of the match, Pumas created few clear cut chances in the opening period and were unable to add to the lead, the best chance falling again to Solari just before half-time, when he put his shot wide from just inside the area.

Tecos started the second half with more to offer, and Fernando Espinoza was replaced by Chiapas for Pumas after the left-back suffered an injury. Pumas began to sit back more but could have added to their lead when Scocco missed a one-on-one with Corona as he tried to lift the ball stylishly over the keeper and only made himself look foolish as it ballooned over.

Palencia came on for Scocco after 70 minutes and immediately made a difference, shaking off his marker down the right-hand side and getting to the by-line before putting in a low cross to Solari who buried it first time for Pumas' second. That looked like that would be it as Tecos had shown little initiative with the ball they had, but Pumas were to give themselves a jittery last ten minutes.

From a near-post corner by Altamirano (there was a lot of talk about it having to be retaken as the ball was outside the quarter-circle) Pumas made a dreadful defensive mess and "Chamagol" stole in to net from barely a yard out.

The Pumas defense held though, including one terrific save from Bernal in the dying seconds, and the university move up to 10 points in group 1, four behind leaders Toluca.

Goals
Solari (16 minutes) 0-1
Solari (70) 0-2
González (84) 1-2

Cards
Pumas: yellow: Bernal (time-wasting)
Tecos: yellow: Sosa, Medina, Altamirano

Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - atoned for his dreadful flapping at the goal with a fine save late on
Castro 6 - had virtually nothing to do, but a bit wasted at full-back
Palacios 6 - a comfortable return
Verón 6 - again unchallenged against a weak attack
Espinoza,F 5 - looks uncomfortable down the left
Chiapas 5 - not a defender but tends to make Sambueza look better
Leandro 6 - moved the ball around but has little trust in Gerardo Espinoza
Espinoza,G 5 - solid but unremarkable
Scocco 5 - a game to forget and an awful miss
Sambueza 6 - not as commanding as last week
Iñiguez 5 - strangely anonymous once again
Solari 7 - took his goals nicely
Palencia 6 - looking lively and currently a good option off the bench
González - only on for a few minutes to shore up a panicky defence.

Tuca 5 - not convinced by his team selection. I would still prefer Chiapas to Gerardo Espinoza, particularly against a team like Tecos. Interesting to see Pikolín given a shot.


Elsewhere in Mexico
In a defensive struggle Cruz Azul and Chivas cancelled each other out 0-0 in the Estadio Azul. San Luis gained a 2-0 home win over 8-man Atlante, for whom Castillo (2 yellows), goalkeeper Vilar (2 yellows for remonstrating about the first goal) and Maldonado (direct red) were sent off. Incidentally the English Premiership averages one red card every 12 games! In a tight game in Morelia a late Mauricio Romero goal gave the Monarcas a 1-0 victory over Jaguares, while América suffered their 4th consecutive defeat, this time 3-0 at Tigres.

Two goals from Jorge Achucarro saw Atlas defeat Puebla 2-1, and Veracruz claimed back some ground in the relegation battle with a 1-0 away win at Necaxa, for whom Rodallega hit the woodwork 3 times. Claudio Graf scored the winner, and ex-Puma Cesareo Victorino was sent off for Veracruz.

In Sunday's games Pachuca won 2-0 in Toluca while Santos beat Monterrey 2-0 in Torreón with goals from Benítez and Vuoso.

Toluca, despite their defeat, are still top of group 1, but now Pachuca are only 2 points behind. Santos move to within 1 point of the overall lead and head group 2 from Atlas, while overall leaders Chivas top group 3 head of San Luis.

Next Up
A home game against Monarcas on Sunday.