Pachuca Dominate First Leg of Quarterfinal
The last of the first leg of the CONCACAF Champion’s Cup Quarterfinals saw Mexican side Pachuca CF take on the underdogs from Guatemala, Deportivo Marquense. Perhaps it was because the game was played at Pachuca’s home stadium, or maybe it’s because Marquense is that much of an underdog, but there was no question as to who should have won this game.
In the end the scoreline favored Pachuca giving them a two goal lead going into the next leg. The first goal came in the thirteenth minute from Damián Ariel Álvarez. Marvin Gabriel Cabrera carried the ball into the right corner and was given space to pick out a crashing Álvarez just outside the six yard box on the left hand side. From there it was an easy finish past the Marquense keeper who really couldn’t do anything to prevent the goal.
The game continued to see Pachuca dominate. Marquense did little to control the ball, and when they would gain possession, the ball was hoofed up field or given away with a sloppy pass. To further on Marquense’s problems no one was moving to support when they had the ball. It was as if they had already condemned themselves to a loss.
Pachuca were unlucky not to slot home at least two more in the first half as they continued to send in beautiful crosses to crashing forwards just outside the six-yard box. In defense of Pachuca, Marquense keeper, Ricardo Trigueño had a phenomenal game making a number of good reaction saves, and stripping the ball off the feet of an oncoming Pachucas striker.
The second goal came in the fifty-eighth minute from an in-swinging corner. It found a Pachuca’s head that then flicked the ball on to the back post for Marvin Gabriel Cabrera who couldn’t do anything but put the ball in the back of the net.
Perhaps Marquense’s best chance came in the ninetieth minute as a ball in to the eighteen found a head and was whipped across the six yard box to find the Pachuca’s keeper, Miguel Ángel Calero, despite an on rushing Marquense striker. Realistically this was Calero’s first difficult save of the game.
If not for some wonderful saves from Trigueño, or a few rued chances by Pachuca, Marquense would stand no chance of reaching the semi-finals when they conclude their quarterfinal on the twenty-eighth of February in Guatemala.
Pachuchas: 7/10 | Marquense: 5/10
Final Score: Pachuca 2 – 0 Marquense
