Game 5: Pumas 3 - 1 Pachuca

Video here.

In a fast and open game, not something that can often be said about mathces in CU, Pumas broke their 9-year streak of not defeating Pachuca at home, and moved level with Cruz Azul at the top of group 2. Meanwhile Pachuca are struggling, with only two points from the campaign, and only one goal from their forward line in five matches.

Pumas were again unchanged, Tuca keeping faith in the side that was beaten in Morelia, except for Carlos Humberto Gonzalez stepping in for "Pikolín" Palacios, with Juan Carlos Cacho (picture) facing his old club. Pachuca were still without Bruno Marioni, but fielded the spine of the side that was so successful at the beginning of 2007.

The "tuzos" started the brighter, evidently determined to grab their first win of the season and vindicate their management's decision to sell 10 players from the first team squad in the summer transfer window. But in Pumas's first real attack of note, they took the lead with a fortuitous goal. Efrain Juárez put in a long cross from the left, Fernando Morales backed away from the last defender and headed back into the middle, and the unfortunate Leobardo López confused himself and ended up bundling the ball into his own net.

Pachuca lost their early impetus but Pumas could not pick it up and the game slowed down for a while, but the home side bit by bit wrested the initiative and after a couple of half chances from long shots, Cacho had the ball in the net but was called back for the narrowest, if not inexistant, offside. Finally on 44 minutes Pumas had the lead; Castro swung in a free kick from the right and Carlos Humberto González appeared unmarked to head powerfully towards goal. Although Calero got hands to it, the power on the ball meant that it squirmed over the line for Pumas's second.

In the second half Pachuca upped the tempo and threw things forward, knowing that an early goal might shake things up, but their attacking dynamism left them exposed at the back and good work from López and Morales put in Cacho, who despite getting a bad connection, put the ball past Calero for his first Pumas goal. There then followed a period where Pumas looked like they would run away with the game, López forcing a good save out of Calero, but Pachuca began to hold onto the ball better and create a couple of half-chances of their own. In the end the reward came from a debatable free kick, which "el Chaco" Giménez slammed in on the hour, with Bernal slightly out of position.

Pumas became a bit nervous and Juárez looked very uncomfortable against Alvarez on the Pachuca left side: the winger skipped round the full-back on three occasions, coming close with a shot that just cleared the bar. Meanwhile Bernal had to be alert to push away a long-range chip that nearly caught him out.

Towards the end, however, with a two-goal deficit, Pachuca ran out of steam and Pumas sent on three players from the reserve team for experience, two of whom, David Cabrera and 19 year-old Javier Cortés, were making their debuts. Leandro even managed a fine shot that Calero could only parry, but Cacho put the rebound over. Pumas ended up comfortable winners while Pachuca are now languishing just above Indios at the bottom of the general classification.

Goals
Leobardo López (o.g.) (12 minutes) 1-0
Carlos Humerto González (44) 2-0
Juan Carlos Cacho (47) 3-0
Christian Giménez (59) 3-1

Cards
Pumas: yellow: Verón
Pachuca: yellow: Cárdenas, Manzur, Álvarez, Pinto

Player Ratings
Bernal 7 - Some great saves, but caught out on the free kick
Velarde 7 - looked completely at ease; now needs to link more with Morales
González 7 - nice header for the goal and sound at the back
Verón 7 - the usual pillar and a couple of nice forays forward
Juárez 5 - looked at sea against Álvarez
Leandro 6 - in control when Pumas were on top, but Pachuca had too many spells of possession
Castro 6 - got involved well and decent cross for the second goal
Iñiguez 7 - a constant threat down the right and came close with a shot from the edge of the box
Morales 7 - looked lively and a good ball to Cacho for the third
López 6 - not his best game so far, but still lively and better understanding with Cacho
Cacho 7 - improving game on game, let's hope there is more to come
Cortés 6 - lively runs while he was on
Rosas and Cabrera - on for a short time

Tuca 7 - let us give him credit for more movement, a great result, and for giving a debut to two young Pumas.

Elsewhere in Mexico
Hugo Rodallega added to his goal tally, and moved to the top of the goalscoring table, with two more for Necaxa as they earned a 2-2 draw in the Estadio 3 de marzo against Tecos. Cruz Azul came from two behind at home to Monterrey to win 3-2, the winner from a Jaime Lozano penalty. Meanwhile an explosive game which San Luis ended with ten men, and Tigres with nine, ended with a 1-0 win for the "Potosinos" after a mistake by "El Conejo" Pérez let in Víctor Piríz for the decisive goal.

The game of the week was undoubtedly in the Jalisco where Chivas entertained Santos. Three times ahead, Chivas could not cope with the force of Vuoso, who scored two, the sending off of Edgar Solís, and the return of Ludueña who needed less than 25 minutes to score after coming on in the second half. The score, an amazing 5-3 to the away side.

Despite continuing defensive problems, Indios de Ciudad Juárez finally gained their first point, coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Toluca. Atlante came from two behind in Cancún to draw against Atlas, despite Maldonado missing a penalty. Again "el Hobbit" Bermúdez was decisive, scoring the equaliser. Puebla finally got a win at the expense of Morelia int he estadio Cuauthémoc, their 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Álvaro González. Despite "el Chango" Moreno scoring his first domestic goal for América, they squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Jaguares, the winner coming from Itamar Batista with three minutes left.

Atlante now top group 1 from Santos, Cruz Azul, Pumas and Tecos all have ten points each at the top of group 2, while San Luis are clear at the top of group 3. In the relegation struggle, Indios are clear bottom, with Tecos, Tigres and Puebla battling above them.

In Primera A, Pumas Morelos defeated Atlante Chetumal 2-0 in Cuernavaca with goals from Salvador Medina and Oscar Rojas. They are now top of group 3, and top of the general table, although they are not eligible for promotion.

Next Up
This week there are midweek league games (Santos v Tecos looks the pick of these), but Pumas's game in Tuxtla against Jaguares will be postponed until November as they travel to Jamaica to play Harbour View in the preliminary phase of the Concacaf Champions League. Next weekend the game is at home against Atlas. Pumas Morelos visit Veracruz.

San Luis play Deportivo Quito on Tuesday and Chivas travel to Aragua Wednesday in the Copa Sudamericana. Cruz Azul play Hankook Verdes in the Concacaf Champions League on Tuesday.