Pumas and America tied in another exciting match that ended with a 3-3 score. Pumas once again took a commanding lead, this time by a 3-0 score, but allowed America to tie the game and this time were a penalty kick away from losing. The 6-6 aggregate score meant that Pumas would go thru because of their better record but without getting a victory in the series, which left America eliminated but with a better taste in the mouth of their fans. Pumas will now face Pachuca, whose coming from eliminated current
champions Toluca.
The 1st half started with Brian Rodriguez coming in from the start for America while Pumas had their usual lineup. A cross into the area went past America’s goalkeeper, Rodolfo Cota but Juninho’s shot was cleared almost off the line by Miguel Vasquez. In the ensuing corner kick, the cross would fall to Adalberto Carrasquilla, who got off a volley shot that hit the post. The ball would then fall to Ruben Duarte, who got off a left footed shot past Cota to score and give Pumas the early 1-0 lead. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area would be headed well by Nathan past Cota to score and give Pumas the 2-0 lead. Pumas was solid on set pieces and America battled back but were in a deep hole. A header into the area was just out of reach from Alejandro Zendejas but it forced Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, to come out. Off a counter, Jordan Carrillo made a great run into the area and got off a right footed shot past Cota to score a great goal and give Pumas the 3-0 lead. It was a great play from Carrillo, who had been the best player for Pumas in the series. A left footed shot from outside the area from Erick Sanchez would be deflected just wide. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area would be headed from close range by a wide open Patricio Salas, past Navas and into the net to score and put the match at 3-1. Off another attack, the cross into the area would be volleyed wide by Sanchez as America now looked to have gotten themselves into the match. After a protest, the referee would red card Pumas’ assistant, Luis Perez. Off a cross into the area, it looked like Pedro Vite handled the ball and after the referee went to VAR, he would give a Penalty Kick to America. The PK was taken by Alejandro Zendejas, who got off a left footed shot past Navas to score and place the score at 3-2. America had not only gotten into the match but they had rattled Pumas badly. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Salas. Off a corner kick, Ramon Juarez rose to head the ball wide from close range. Off a corner kick, the ball was headed back to Sanchez, who scored off a header from close range but after going to VAR, the goal was ruled offside. The halftime whistle blew and once again Pumas had made a great start only for America to come back to the point they were saved from the tie by a VAR decision.
The 2nd half started with America subbing out Patricio Salas for Henry Martin. A cross into the area was just missed by Martin, who would have had a close range chance had he gotten to it. A mistake by Carrasquilla allowed Sanchez to get a chance in the area but his right footed shot went wide. A great pass from Carrasquilla was badly handled by Juninho, who gave the ball to Cota when he would have had a great chance had he gotten off a shot. After a thru ball gave Juninho a 1 vs 1, he got off a terrible shot that was easily saved by Cota in a bad miss. A cross into the area would be headed by a wide open Alejandro Zendejas past Navas from close range to score and tie the match at 3-3. Pumas subbed out Uriel Antuna for Antonio Leone. Rodriguez got the ball in the area but his shot would go wide. Sanchez got off a left footed shot that was saved by Navas. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez and Jordan Carrillo for Pablo Bennevendo and Cesar Garza. America subbed out Erick Sanchez, Dagoberto Espinoza and Jonathan Dos Santos for Vinicius Lima, Rapahel Veiga and Rodrigo Dourado. A mistake by Cota almost allowed Robert Morales to win the ball and get an open net chance. A cross into the area was headed by Vasquez but it was deflected right to Navas. Pumas subbed out Juninho for Angel Azuaje. Off a cross into the area, Azuaje was judged to have kicked Juarez in the head and a PK was given to America. Martin stepped up to take the PK but his right footed shot hit the post and was cleared. America subbed out Kevin Alvarez for Nestor Araujo. A cross into the area from Vasquez almost went in but Navas made a great save. Pumas held on for the 3-3 tie that gave them the ticket but left a lot of doubts with the team.
On paper Pumas had a great result in eliminating their biggest rival Club America from the Liguilla. Yet, the matches left a sour taste and lots of worries on their fans. After taking a 3-1 lead in the first leg, America came back to get a 3-3 tie. In the 2nd leg it was even worse after a 3-0 lead by Pumas was wasted and another 3-3 tie that was a Penalty Kick away from America getting a victory. Had Martin not missed, America would have gotten the 4-3 win. Still the regular season counts for something and it counted to give Pumas the aggregate win. Pumas will need to bounce back against an Pachuca side that eliminated the current Liga MX champions in Toluca, who were missing players and looked to be concentrating in the CONCACAF Champions Cup especially in the first leg.
