Pumas Succumb to Early Goal
It was a disappointing day for Pumas as they controlled the majority of the game, but couldn’t seem to find any real opportunities to pull ahead. The first fifteen minutes saw both sides create some good movement around the opposing eighteens, but it was Cruz Azul who struck in the fifteenth minute. José López took down César Delgado six yards outside of the eighteen yard box. The resulting free kick found the head of Miguel Sabah who nodded past the approaching Pumas Doorman Sergio Bernal. A vain attempt was made to clear the ball from the line but it had clearly crossed the goal-line.Pumas looked to respond quickly in the eighteenth minute when some good movement upfield led to a out swinging cross from the right side just outside of the six-yard box. This was one of the few times a ball in would find the feet of a Pumas striker, except it was mis-hit and trickled into the arms of the Cruz Azul keeper.
The remainder of the first half saw dominance from the Pumas side as Cruz Azul had very few chances after their first goal. López showed good work to move the ball and take on defenders, but his crosses were usually met with open space or a Cruz Azul defender. Perhaps the best chance came for Pumas just before half time in the forty-fifth minute when yet another cross in found the head of a Pumas striker. The shot crossed back in front of the goal and almost beat Oscar Pérez to his back post, but an astounding save denied Pumas of anything before the half-time whistle.
The second half saw Pumas continue to dominate with more wasted opportunities. One of their better chances came within the first minute of the second half when a ball in found the foot of Ignacio Scocco who put his shot well over the goal.
Pumas continued knocking with crosses in, or set piece corner kicks that tested the goalie well. At least twice Pérez was forced to make reaction saves from near point blank range. However, Perez was also given some room to breath as many of Pumas’ attempts looked like Antonio Sánchez’s attempt in the eighty-third minute as he took a volley with his right foot that sailed just inches over the bar.
All in all, Pumas outplayed Cruz Azul and looked the better team on the day, but it was the early goal from Cruz Azul that would stand to determine the winner.
Pumas: 7/10 | Cruz Azul: 5.5/10
Final Score: Pumas 0 - 1 Cruz Azul
