Pumas crushes Tijuana in a must win match

Pumas got a huge victory after defeating Tijuana by a 4-1 score. Pumas once again climbed into the Play in Zone although they still have a very tough task for their final match of the season to maintain themselves in 10th place. Pumas was the better side overall as they returned to their 12:00 PM start on a Sunday and it paid off. Pumas will now have to close the season against Cruz Azul in an extremely tough match against the first placed team while Tijuana returns home to face off against Atlas as they try to remain in the Play In Zone

The 1st half started with the return of Jose Juan Macias to the starting 11 while Tijuana was facing the first match without Gilberto Mora, who had surgery to fix a broken hand. Adonis Preciado went on a 1 vs 1 run that was called offside but it was an incorrect ruling. Alvaro Angulo got off a cross into the area that Jose Juan Macias would head it over Tijuana’s goalkeeper, Jose Rodriguez to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. It was a great header by Macias, who took advantage of Rodriguez misjudging the ball. A cross into the area was headed by Frank Boya but it went just wide. Tijuana subbed out injured Ramiro Arciga for Vitinho. A right footed shot from Boya in the area went wide. Off a corner kick, the ball was left there for Rafael Fernnadez, whose volley was saved by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. Jesus Vega got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. On a 1 vs 1, Rodrigo Lopez wasted a great chance when he sent his right footed shot wide. After making a move in the area, Boya looked to have severely injured himself and needed medical attention. He would have to be carted off the field and Cristian Castillo would take his place. Off a corner kick, the ball fell to Macias, who passed it to Jorge Ruvalcaba who unintentionally trying to control the ball, left it for Alvaro Angulo to get off a left footed shot from close range past Rodriguez to score and give Pumas the 2-0 lead. Immediately after restarting, Rodrigo Lopez would win the play, get to the area and get off a right footed shot past Rodriguez to score and give Pumas the 3-0 lead. The two quick goals look to have given Pumas an important lead. The halftime whistle blew and Pumas was in a great position to get the three points.

The 2nd half started with no changes at halftime. Preciado got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went well wide. After making a good move in the area, Vega got off a left footed shot that forced a save from Navas. After a great run from Adalberto Carrasquilla, he would find a wide open Macias, who tried to control the ball instead of getting off a one time chance only to lose the ball in a terrible miss. Jose Juan Macias was subbed out for Pedro Vite. A cross into the area reached Preciado, who incredibly from extremely close range, sent his shot wide in a terrible miss. Vega got off a left footed shot from outside the area that Navas saved. After Domingo Blanco got brought down in the area in a dubious foul, a Penalty Kick was given. On the PK, Kevin Castañeda got off a right footed shot past Navas to score and place the match at 3-1. A volley into the area was volleyed wide by Pablo Bennevendo. Pumas subbed out Jorge Ruvalcaba for Alfonso Monroy. After getting the ball in the area, Lopez got off a right footed shot that Rodriguez easily saved. Off a counter, a good pass from Angulo found Alan Medina, whose right footed shot was blocked by Rodriguez. Unfortunately for him, he left the ball there for Ruben Duarte to pounce on it and get off a shot past Rodriguez to score and give Pumas the 4-1 lead. Pumas subbed out Adalberto Carrasquilla, Rodrigo Lopez and Alan Medina for Dennis Ramirez, Angel Rico and Stanley Garcia. Monroy got off a right footed shot that Rodriguez saved. After a good move in the area, Vite got off a right footed shot that went just wide. The match ended as Pumas got a huge win for their season’s chances.

Pumas needed a victory and got it in grand style. With their season on the line, Pumas got a great victory that now has them in the Play In Zone. It wasn’t a great performance but they were solid in the final third especially in the 1st half. Pumas took advantage of the return to the 12:00 PM starting time and it paid off as Tijuana suffered although Pumas did too in the 2nd half. Still Pumas now has the toughest match as they close out the season facing first placed Cruz Azul. The match will take place in Puebla because as Cruz Azul is the home side, they aren’t allowed to play at their home, Estadio Olimpico Universitario, who they are “renting” from Pumas. Tijuana will have to close out their season in a must win match at home against Atlas.