Game 16: Veracruz 2 - 4 Pumas
Video herePumas finally got a victory that keeps them in a hunt for a repechaje spot, while one defeat too many finally consigned Veracruz to relegation after three years in the top flight. It was an open game, but ultimately the "jarochos" were not good enough and Pumas were able to find a rhythm to restart their championship challenge.
Pumas began with the same team as against Toluca, Iñiguez starting ahead of Barrera. The start was tense as both sides, for different reasons, were desperate to win, and a draw was good enough for neither side. It was Pumas who began emerging as the better side, just as Veracruz scored the opener.
Veteran "El Pony" Ruiz gave Fernando Espinoza the run around all afternoon, and it was his cross which caught Velarde napping at the far post and Balderas sneaked in to net first time past Bernal.
While Iñiguez was insecure down the right, Sambueza continued his excellent run of form by tormenting the right side of the "escualo" defense. Twice crosses caused panic in the area before an excellent run from the same player brought the equaliser. He burst past Peppino and then playing a one-two with Solari raced in front of Garcia to stab past Villaseñor.
The midfield began to be controlled fully by Pumas, except for the excellent Ruiz, and Castro and Leandro seemed more comfortable as they stuck, possibly for the first time this season, to roughly left and right-hand side roles. Scocco and Solari were also revelling in the wide open spaces, a Scocco bicycle kick from the edge of the area being pushed round the post. Meanwhile Solari was at his most mobile this season, coming towards the ball and laying off to the midfield. Nevertheless the Veracruz pressure was sporadic to say the least.
Just before half time Pumas took the lead. Sambueza was fouled out left, and Leandro swung the resulting free kick in for Scocco to arrive late and unmarked to head confidently into the top corner. It was no more then the university deserved as they had asserted full control of the ball throughout the last twenty minutes of the half.
Barrera appeared for a rather subdued Iñiguez after half time, while ex-Puma Cesáreo Victorino came on to add dynamism to the Veracruz midfield. The Pumas defence, as well as Castro and Leandro, seemed to stand off a much improved Veracruz, and they had several well struck attempts at goal, with Victorino, Ruiz and Layún having long range efforts pushed away, more or less securely by Bernal in the Pumas goal.
Barrera missed a great chance to make it three for Pumas, when a return from Solari found him one-on-one with Villaseñor but he rushed the chance and put it over. It mattered little however as Solari himself fired a shot from the edge of the area past the Veracruz keeper for the third. And less than ten minutes later it was four when a nice ball from Scocco pushed Solari into acres of space down the left, and he slid it under Villaseñor for number four, despite Scocco's screams for the return ball into the middle.
Pumas sat back and allowed Veracruz some more long-range shots, Victorino going close again, and they eventually paid as Ruiz curled a nice shot from just inside the area past Bernal for a consolation, after good work by De Nigris. This seemed to galvanise Pumas for the last few minutes and Solari and Palencia both went close late on without being able to add to the score.
Meanwhile the Veracruz faithful had realised that this was the end of their odyssey in the top division, and while some fans began to leave, and others sat on the terraces and cried, one member of the crowd took his frustrations out on a policeman, throwing his big bass drum at the unfortunate security man's head and knocking him down about ten steps to the fencing. Apart from one decent season with Cuauhtémoc Blanco however they have struggled in the Primera division and there has been a lot of talk of maladministration, with chairmen and managers seemingly coming and going on a whim.
Pumas now find themselves having to beat Pachuca at home next week to have a chance of progressing. Even this may not be enough as they have to hope that one of Puebla or Atlas fails to win too. In the meantime Pumas fans will at least have been amused at the response of the Pumas board to América's approach for Darío Verón on loan for the Libertadores - the only way he will ever where yellow is if you buy him they said. I remember Pumas players (was it Scocco and Sancho?) turning out for Toluca last year, but am I the only person who feels the loaning of three players for the final stages of the Libertadores is ludicrous?
Goals
Balderas (11 minutes) 1-0
Sambueza (23) 1-1
Scocco (38) 1-2
Solari (58) 1-3
Solari (63) 1-4
Ruiz (83) 2-4
Cards
Pumas: yellow: Palencia
Veracruz: yellow: De Nigris
Both cards in the last ten minutes in a very clean game. To be honest I don't think either was merited, although I don't suppose Marco Antonio Rodriguez knows how to go through a whole game without reaching into his pocket.
Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - did ok, if a little shaky on a couple of long shots.
Espinoza 4 - completely outplayed by Ruiz and stood off him too much. The right-hand side was limited in attack too.
Velarde 5 - at fault for the first goal but did get forward well.
Verón 6 - solid and not put under any pressure.
Palacios 6 - with no men pushing up on him his distribution was better.
Leandro 7 - won the midfield battle and looks more comfortable patrolling mainly the left-hand side.
Castro 6 - steady and put in a couple of nice balls, like the one Scocco scissored towards the corner.
Scocco 7 - excellent movement and a nicely taken goal. Sometimes drifts out of the game though.
Solari 8 - his best game for Pumas, but admittedly given a lot of time. Good movement, distribution and finishing.
Sambueza 8 - a constant thorn in Veracruz's side and the only Puma who can regualrly cross accurately.
Iñiguez 5 - full of running but lacked effectiveness.
Barrera 6 - his pace caused problems but should have scored.
Palencia 5 - like he always does gives 100% but no real penetration
Chiapas 5 - missed a gilt-edged chance at the end for the fifth.
Tuca 7 - I imagine the opposition had something to do with it, but he has got the attack playing with more pace and flair. More of the same needed against Pachuca.
Pumas began with the same team as against Toluca, Iñiguez starting ahead of Barrera. The start was tense as both sides, for different reasons, were desperate to win, and a draw was good enough for neither side. It was Pumas who began emerging as the better side, just as Veracruz scored the opener.
Veteran "El Pony" Ruiz gave Fernando Espinoza the run around all afternoon, and it was his cross which caught Velarde napping at the far post and Balderas sneaked in to net first time past Bernal.
While Iñiguez was insecure down the right, Sambueza continued his excellent run of form by tormenting the right side of the "escualo" defense. Twice crosses caused panic in the area before an excellent run from the same player brought the equaliser. He burst past Peppino and then playing a one-two with Solari raced in front of Garcia to stab past Villaseñor.
The midfield began to be controlled fully by Pumas, except for the excellent Ruiz, and Castro and Leandro seemed more comfortable as they stuck, possibly for the first time this season, to roughly left and right-hand side roles. Scocco and Solari were also revelling in the wide open spaces, a Scocco bicycle kick from the edge of the area being pushed round the post. Meanwhile Solari was at his most mobile this season, coming towards the ball and laying off to the midfield. Nevertheless the Veracruz pressure was sporadic to say the least.
Just before half time Pumas took the lead. Sambueza was fouled out left, and Leandro swung the resulting free kick in for Scocco to arrive late and unmarked to head confidently into the top corner. It was no more then the university deserved as they had asserted full control of the ball throughout the last twenty minutes of the half.
Barrera appeared for a rather subdued Iñiguez after half time, while ex-Puma Cesáreo Victorino came on to add dynamism to the Veracruz midfield. The Pumas defence, as well as Castro and Leandro, seemed to stand off a much improved Veracruz, and they had several well struck attempts at goal, with Victorino, Ruiz and Layún having long range efforts pushed away, more or less securely by Bernal in the Pumas goal.
Barrera missed a great chance to make it three for Pumas, when a return from Solari found him one-on-one with Villaseñor but he rushed the chance and put it over. It mattered little however as Solari himself fired a shot from the edge of the area past the Veracruz keeper for the third. And less than ten minutes later it was four when a nice ball from Scocco pushed Solari into acres of space down the left, and he slid it under Villaseñor for number four, despite Scocco's screams for the return ball into the middle.
Pumas sat back and allowed Veracruz some more long-range shots, Victorino going close again, and they eventually paid as Ruiz curled a nice shot from just inside the area past Bernal for a consolation, after good work by De Nigris. This seemed to galvanise Pumas for the last few minutes and Solari and Palencia both went close late on without being able to add to the score.
Meanwhile the Veracruz faithful had realised that this was the end of their odyssey in the top division, and while some fans began to leave, and others sat on the terraces and cried, one member of the crowd took his frustrations out on a policeman, throwing his big bass drum at the unfortunate security man's head and knocking him down about ten steps to the fencing. Apart from one decent season with Cuauhtémoc Blanco however they have struggled in the Primera division and there has been a lot of talk of maladministration, with chairmen and managers seemingly coming and going on a whim.
Pumas now find themselves having to beat Pachuca at home next week to have a chance of progressing. Even this may not be enough as they have to hope that one of Puebla or Atlas fails to win too. In the meantime Pumas fans will at least have been amused at the response of the Pumas board to América's approach for Darío Verón on loan for the Libertadores - the only way he will ever where yellow is if you buy him they said. I remember Pumas players (was it Scocco and Sancho?) turning out for Toluca last year, but am I the only person who feels the loaning of three players for the final stages of the Libertadores is ludicrous?
Goals
Balderas (11 minutes) 1-0
Sambueza (23) 1-1
Scocco (38) 1-2
Solari (58) 1-3
Solari (63) 1-4
Ruiz (83) 2-4
Cards
Pumas: yellow: Palencia
Veracruz: yellow: De Nigris
Both cards in the last ten minutes in a very clean game. To be honest I don't think either was merited, although I don't suppose Marco Antonio Rodriguez knows how to go through a whole game without reaching into his pocket.
Player Ratings
Bernal 6 - did ok, if a little shaky on a couple of long shots.
Espinoza 4 - completely outplayed by Ruiz and stood off him too much. The right-hand side was limited in attack too.
Velarde 5 - at fault for the first goal but did get forward well.
Verón 6 - solid and not put under any pressure.
Palacios 6 - with no men pushing up on him his distribution was better.
Leandro 7 - won the midfield battle and looks more comfortable patrolling mainly the left-hand side.
Castro 6 - steady and put in a couple of nice balls, like the one Scocco scissored towards the corner.
Scocco 7 - excellent movement and a nicely taken goal. Sometimes drifts out of the game though.
Solari 8 - his best game for Pumas, but admittedly given a lot of time. Good movement, distribution and finishing.
Sambueza 8 - a constant thorn in Veracruz's side and the only Puma who can regualrly cross accurately.
Iñiguez 5 - full of running but lacked effectiveness.
Barrera 6 - his pace caused problems but should have scored.
Palencia 5 - like he always does gives 100% but no real penetration
Chiapas 5 - missed a gilt-edged chance at the end for the fifth.
Tuca 7 - I imagine the opposition had something to do with it, but he has got the attack playing with more pace and flair. More of the same needed against Pachuca.
Elsewhere in Mexico
Pachuca drew the first leg of their CONCACAF Cup final 1-1 against Saprissa in San José with a goal from Luis Gabriel Rey, although they must be disappointed to have conceded the equaliser in the last minute. The second leg is in Pachuca on Wednesday.
In the Copa Libertadores Atlas have been drawn against Argentinian champions Lanús with the first leg in Buenos Aires. Meanwhile América play Flamengo of Brazil, with the first leg in the Azteca.
In a game dominated by the "cementeros" a Jaime Lozano penalty gave Cruz Azul a 1-0 victory over lacklustre Monarcas, who are now eliminated. San Luis were unable to take advantage of a limited Atlas side as they drew 0-0 at home. Itamar Batista grabbed the goal that gives Jaguares a direct passage to the Liguilla after a 1-0 in Pachuca, who now have to beat Pumas to be sure of a repechaje place. Meanwhile Santos assured their place in the "Fiesta Grande" by beating Tigres 2-1, and the Monterrey team are now out.
Puebla "celebrated" their salvation from relegation by putting in an abysmal performance against leaders Chivas in the Jalisco, and ended up on the end of a 4-0 battering, Omar Bravo netting his 100th top-flight goal. Meanwhile the champions Atlante are out, beaten 3-2 in Cancún by Monterrey with two goals from Humberto Suazo, the tournament's leading scorer. Toluca qualified direct by beating 10-man Tecos 3-0, and they are now eliminated, while América's dismal run continues as the notched their sixth successive defeat losing 2-0 in Aguascalientes against Necaxa.
Toluca, Jaguares, Santos and Monterrey, plus two of Chivas, San Luis and Cruz Azul go direct to the play-offs. Repechaje will involve the one of those three who doesn't make it, Necaxa, and two of Pachuca, Atlas, Puebla and Pumas.
Pachuca drew the first leg of their CONCACAF Cup final 1-1 against Saprissa in San José with a goal from Luis Gabriel Rey, although they must be disappointed to have conceded the equaliser in the last minute. The second leg is in Pachuca on Wednesday.
In the Copa Libertadores Atlas have been drawn against Argentinian champions Lanús with the first leg in Buenos Aires. Meanwhile América play Flamengo of Brazil, with the first leg in the Azteca.
In a game dominated by the "cementeros" a Jaime Lozano penalty gave Cruz Azul a 1-0 victory over lacklustre Monarcas, who are now eliminated. San Luis were unable to take advantage of a limited Atlas side as they drew 0-0 at home. Itamar Batista grabbed the goal that gives Jaguares a direct passage to the Liguilla after a 1-0 in Pachuca, who now have to beat Pumas to be sure of a repechaje place. Meanwhile Santos assured their place in the "Fiesta Grande" by beating Tigres 2-1, and the Monterrey team are now out.
Puebla "celebrated" their salvation from relegation by putting in an abysmal performance against leaders Chivas in the Jalisco, and ended up on the end of a 4-0 battering, Omar Bravo netting his 100th top-flight goal. Meanwhile the champions Atlante are out, beaten 3-2 in Cancún by Monterrey with two goals from Humberto Suazo, the tournament's leading scorer. Toluca qualified direct by beating 10-man Tecos 3-0, and they are now eliminated, while América's dismal run continues as the notched their sixth successive defeat losing 2-0 in Aguascalientes against Necaxa.
Toluca, Jaguares, Santos and Monterrey, plus two of Chivas, San Luis and Cruz Azul go direct to the play-offs. Repechaje will involve the one of those three who doesn't make it, Necaxa, and two of Pachuca, Atlas, Puebla and Pumas.
Next up
Pumas play Pachuca with nothing less than a win needed. Here's hoping they are drained from the CONCACAF Cup. On Tuesday Lanús v Atlas, on Wednesday Flamengo v América in the Copa Libertadores. Meanwhile the quarter-finals of Primera A start on Wednesday with Dorados of Culiacán favourites after finishing top of the table.
posted by John Kelly @ 1:39 pm
4 comments
4 Comments:
Great win, and a proper goal from Solari to boot. Lovely picture of Nacho too. Shame though for Veracruz … fabulous little stadium …. Great away trip …. I heard somewhere that they have been relegated 4 times in 10 years, is that right?
A fan died in the stadium last year, and then the drum incident…. Blanco was in Veracruz that season as he was “in disgrace” at America for starting the famous wheelbarrow fight against Santos (Brasil) ……..
We lent two strikers to Toluca, Scocco & Palencia http://pumas-blog.blogspot.com/2007/05/game-17-tigres-away.html which was hilarious because they had hardly scored for us all season! Actually, I think “Tolo” Gallego was still Toluca manager – he gave Scocco his top flight debut at Newell’s. He scored one goal for them, late on in their last game, but it was way too late for them to qualify by then. It does seem odd to us Europeans the way teams go round Mexico looking for any decent players to loan, but I think it is a “us against them” situation – the (referring) odds are stacked against Mexican clubs in the Libertadores, and I guess the idea is that ALL Mexican clubs want ANY Mexican club to do well in it ………. America can fuck off though …
Hey! Checking the old blogs to find that loan info I found this gem from you, Trick “I don't entirely disagree with DT that it was an inconsistent performance by the coach since Christmas.” Followed by: - “I am quite excited about the new season - I think we can mix it with the big boys and I am sure Tuca can get us to the Liguilla this time round.” – Well, we got to the FINAL the next time round – as if we needed proof that this is the best football blog anywhere in the world.
Nearly :- www.dtelsalvador.blogspot.com/
I have a couple of questions as usual:-
What can you tell us about this Chilean at Monterrey? Both his goals on the coast were beautifully taken, I thought.
What’s the score with Pachuca? They just don’t seem half the team they were, even a year ago … Losing 5-2 to a bunch of journeymen like Puebla surely ought to be unthinkable for them? Incidentally I am not at all unhappy that Puebla have survived, they seemed to have done it on graft and team work – not like Santos, who were in real trouble the same time as us … and simply spent big time at Christmas…. And finally it’s paying off for them.
Oh! A third question? WHY are America so bad this year? Great as it is! Oh and can you tell us about Rubén Romano’s record, is he at something like 20 or 21 consecutive games in Mexico without winning? Is that right?
Some great goals there. Pumas movement looked good too.
Feel strangely sad to learn of Veracruz demise. A good place to watch football.
BlackComyn
Thanks for the clarification on the loans to Toluca DT! I think you are probably right about Mexican clubs having a "them against us" attitude, a misplaced nationalism. This is after all a club competition, and I for one would happily see any number of sides win it other than América or Chivas. Atlas, as the small team, carry my Mexican support such as it is.
As for the other teams, Cúcuta and University of Quito have been playing well and would be a refreshing change to the inflated egos of Bocas Juniors and Sao Paolo.
Don't know much about Humberto Suazo, although he is well known in Chile as everyone there I talked to about Mexican football knew how he was getting on. Like the Mexican players abroad I guess... He looks a good finisher at this level, although I am not sure he is ready for the step up to a bigger league.
I think I will reserve comments about Pachuca until next week after we've played them, but after two excellent championships they were inconsistent in Apertura 2007, and again this season. When they were playing well they relied a lot on Chitiva and Juan Carlos Cacho, but both have been off form recently.
Rubén Romano's record with América must possibly be the worst for any top-flight manager in Mexico, and now that he has resigned, and América are as good as gone from the Libertadores, there must be some serious rethinking. Even in previous seasons they were not too clever. Remember how ponderous they were in 2006-7 when Blanco wasn't playing? Cabañas has been their one shining light. I am sure they will have a clean out and buy some decent players over the summer. Incidentally, if relegation was over one year and not three, as in Europe, América would still be battling it out with Veracruz, and Tigres, for who goes down!
Have to agree with Balckcomyn too that the movement we saw from Pumas against Veracruz was the best for a long time. Is it the beginning of something?
Thanks Trick, and I see eye to eye with you about the big boys of South America - as boring as the UEFA Champions League - same names, same players all the time yawn yawn - if only there was a "CONMEBOL Cup" along the lines of the UEFA Cup .....
Pachuca are champions of CONCACAF and go to Japan in December - I read someone saying "There can be no doubt they are indeed the best team in the region". Well, I have some doubt at the moment, to be honest.
God, you are so right about 2006/7 America, Blanco was in and out, it was like two different teams...
Just found out that one of the (I think) two Mexican players here in El Salvador is ex-Puma. I think he looks a very good midfielder, with a beautiful cross and strong on the ball. http://elgrafico.com/index.php?eqp=2&prt=480&flv check that video (should be Alianza 0 Nejapa 0 - if not click on "video"), he wears number 20 for Alianza (in white) - see him come very very close to scoring from just inside the centre circle... Arturo Albarrán is the name.
And you last question? "No" is being what I am saying.....
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