CONCACAF CL Game 1: San Francisco 1 - 1 Pumas

Video here.

In a complicated game played by effectively the Pumas reserve team, the UNAM team managed to gain a point away in Panama, despite playing nearly half the match with nine men. Although they took an early lead, in the end Pumas were hanging on against limited opposition who nevertheless might have stolen the victory.

Few of the university starting line-up had much first team experience, and none started in the last match against Tigres. Palencia, C.H. González and Fernando Espinoza were the most experienced players, with Alex Diego and Jehu Chiapas having had a few first team games. Patiño started in goal ahead of Alejandro Palacios, and Martín Bravo (picture) started his first game for the club after the problems of getting the necessary paperwork out of the Argentinian Federation.

Right from the start Pumas were in command of possession, and it looked as if the Panamanians would rely on pumping in crosses to their tall strikers Pérez and Zapata. Nevertheless there was a lack of cohesion and penetration from the Mexicans, not unsurprisingly since the players will not have played together in this way before.

The start was ideal for Pumas as in the 7th minute they were ahead. A free kick was taken short to Espinoza, and he skipped round one to unleash a shot which took a deflection and ended up going in off the underside of the bar. From here it should have been plain sailing with the amount of ball that the UNAM had at their disposal, but goalkeeper Odin Patiño looked nervous, and Juan Carlos Ramírez looked at sea, with González lacking the height of Palacios to deal with awkward crosses.

San Francisco hit back five minutes before half time with a predictable header which Zapata put away unmarked despite being surrounded by four Pumas defenders. And worse was to follow before the break. Bravo, in his debut game, had looked a little sluggish but vaguely promising when the assistant referee called over Joel Aguilar who was in charge, as a result of Temis Pérez writhing around on the floor. It transpired that the Panamanian had pulled Bravo's hair and he had reacted with an elbow to the chest. The punishment Aguilar decided on was a direct red for the elbow (which was justifiable if a little harsh) and nothing for the hair pulling (which actually caused the incident). Clearly Bravo should not have reacted as he did, but the referee had given little protection to the players and Pérez should have had a caution.

Not long after half time, despite more or less continuing to control possession, Pumas were down to nine. Patiño came out carelessly dragging his foot out, despite the fact there was little danger, and succeeded in felling Pérez and earning the second red of the night. Orlando Pineda came off and Alejandro Palacios took over in goal, and looked a little more secure.

The rest of the match was San Francisco pushing forward but short on ideas, and Palencia remaining the loan striker for Pumas. There were one or two close calls, especially some panicky moments on crosses, but generally the away team held on comfortably to take home a point. San Francisco also had a man sent off (Rivera) towards the end for a second yellow card.

Goals
Fernando Espinoza (7 minutes) 0 - 1
Alberto Zapata (41) 1 - 1

Cards
Pumas: yellow: Cabrera, Espinoza, red: Bravo, Patiño
San Francisco: yellow: Ortega, Jiménez, red: Rivera

Player Ratings
Patiño 4 - unconvincing, missed one cross dreadfully, fumbled a couple more and got sent off in a clumsy fashion
Ramírez 5 - looked at sea but settled as the game went on
González 5 - not bad but Pumas needed more direction from a man of his experience
Espinoza 7 - the best player on the field and also got the goal. Dynamic and creative.
Pineda 5 - looked poor in the air and his marking was suspect but showed commitment
Diego 5 - despite a lot of ball was unable to influence the shape of the game
Chiapas 5 - is still being switched around from position to position. He needs to settle
Rosas 6 - could develop into a decent player but the clock is ticking on the return of Iñiguez and later Barrera
Palencia 6 - worked hard, but isolated for much of the game
Bravo 5 - not match fit and a foolish loss of control, despite the provocation, cut his debut short
Palacios, A 5 - steadier than Patiño but that is not saying much
Medina 5 - had little to do but steady a nine-man line-up
Cortés - only came on in the dying seconds

Tuca 5 - no blame can be cast on Tuca for the sendings off, and without them Pumas should have gone on to win. Nevertheless it is questionable to say the least playing a reserve team in an international competition. Wasn't that Miguel España's mistake?

Elsewhere in Mexico
Chivas scraped through unconvincingly to the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. Leading 2-1 from the away leg against Aragua, they stumbled to a 1-1 draw at home, Sergio Santana scoring and missing a penalty, and so go forward 3-2 on aggregate.

San Luis also made it to the round of 16, losing 3-2 in Ecuador against Deportivo Quito, but going through by virtue of their 3-1 win in the first leg in San Luis.

Santos picked up three points at home to Municipal in the CONCACAF Champions League, winning 3-2 at home thanks to a late goal from Vuoso. A weak and strangely aligned Cruz Azul team was brushed aside 2-0 by Honduran Champions Marathón.

Atlante looked the most impressive of the Mexican sides in the competition, and won reasonably comfortably with a young side against Olimpia of Honduras, despite the narrow 1-0 scoreline. The goal came in the first half from Arturo Muñoz.

The Mexican Federation has announced that from Game 10 a pink ball will be used in the league, as in previous tournaments, to support Breast Cancer awareness.

Next Up
Pumas entertain ex-leaders San Luis in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The pick of the other games is Cruz Azul v Santos. Pumas Morelos don't play this weekend.