BC Pangie

Pachuca and Chivas will go into the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup next Wednesday on even terms. The match finished today with the sides even at two a piece. While Chivas’ Omar Bravo netted both for his side, Pachuca spread the goals out with one from Juan Cacho, and the other from Marvin Cabrera.

The game looked to be an interesting match from the beginning as Chivas had a wonderful shot from outside the eighteen bounce off the crossbar, nick the post, and then back out into play. This happened in the first five minutes, and it was this instance that set the pace for the game.

No one side dominated heavily, and both sides saw equal opportunities, but it was Pachuca who struck first on the counterattack in the twenty-first minute through Juan Cacho. Andrés Chitiva was led from his own half and then carried the ball into the corner where he slipped in a cross to Cacho who tapped it home.

Pachuca continued to look strong moving the ball forward, but so did Chivas. Bravo, Bofo, and Medina looked good up front. Bofo had a truly wonderful game as his touches were always on, and his knowledge of the game shown through. It was Bofo who set up Chivas first goal in the forty-fourth minute as he sent his clearance from the eighteen up the line to Omar Bravo who received it just inside of his own half. Bravo had space, and took it with speed. He continued to make his forty yard run into the corner of the box where he cut it back to his left food and sent a wonderful curling ball past Miguel Calero. It was truly a world class run, evidence of Bravo’s quality.

The second half opened much like the first with both sides looking to exploit the other, and neither side really looking scared. Calero was forced to make some top saves as Bofo continued to send people through in the box. Unfortunately for Calero, his quality saves wouldn’t be enough to stop a stupendous team effort goal from Chivas. Chivas showed great control as they moved the ball in and around the eighteen, until Ramón Morales took it to touch and then sent the ball square. His cross beat Claero and an unmarked Bravo couldn’t do anything but score.

After this goal, Pachuca made some changes, and it didn’t really look to do anything for the team, as Chivas began to dominate possession, creating chances and looking the better team. Chivas couldn’t find the back of the net, and thought they were safe when they took out Bravo late in the eightieth minute. They were not safe. Bravo was what was holding the team together upfront working well with Bofo. He came out and Pachuca scored two minutes later with a spectacular shot from Cabrera.

Pachuca dominated the last ten minutes, and probably should have won the first leg if not for some poor calls from the linesman. They had two goals ruled offsides, when replays showed that neither player was offsides. The first the player was even with the ball when it was played, and the second was a wonderful diagonal run that caught defender, goalie, and linesman flat footed. If Pachuca should go on to lose the tie they will undeniably feel hard done by the referees.