Pumas and America tie in lively “Deja Vu” match
· Yahoo Sports
Pumas and America battled to a 2-2 tie in an exciting match that ended with result that doesn’t benefit either side. It was a strange match that had very similar goals and which had end to end action and even a giant scuffle between teams. Pumas is basically out of the Liguilla with the result but will still hope to be able to get the miracle as they close out their season at home against Monterrey, while America will try to get back the first place spot in Liga MX that they lost on Saturday when they travel north to face off against struggling Tigres.
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The 1st half started with both teams coming out with close to their best. While America was missing their best player in Brian Rodriguez, a solid player like Alejandro Zendejas was taking his place. A great run by Oscar Perea would end with him getting off a cross that Alejandro Zendejas would dive to head it past Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas to score the very early goal that gave America the 1-0 lead. It was a great start for America as Perea made a great play and Zendejas got off a great header. Pumas will respond almost immediately as Uriel Antuna would copy Perea and get past a defender and get off a cross into the area where Cesar Huerta would volley it past America’s goalkeeper, Luis Malagon to score and tie the match at 1-1. It was a great play for the home side as Pumas now had tied the match which a very similar play to the goal scored by America. Off a counter, Huerta would get off a pass that turned into a shot that Malagon would clear with a kick. A cross into the area would fall to Adalberto Carrasquilla, whose shot would be deflected just wide. A huge scuffle between both teams after a foul by Kevin Alvarez on Huerta would end with a number of yellow cards to both sides. A cross into the area was wonderfully lowered by Perea but his right footed shot would go past Navas but also would go wide. Off a counter, Erick Sanchez got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went wide. A pass to Alvarez, would forced Navas to clear the ball just inside the area and the ball would be dangerous but it was cleared before Zendejas could lob it to the empty net. A cross into the area was bobbled by Malagon after he crashed into a player and the ball would fall to Robert Morales, who got off a right footed shot into the empty net to score. The goal would be called of in a controversial way after Referee Cesar Ramos ruled Nathan to be offside in the play where Malagon crashed into his teammate, Alan Cervantes. Once again Perea did a great job lowering the ball but his pass was cleared by Pumas’ defense before Henry Martin could get to the empty net chance. The halftime whistle blew and both side had fought hard but the match remained tied.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a substitution yet. A counter would end up with Antuna having a wide open chance in the area but his lobbed shot was terrible and he was saved that the play would eventually be called offside. A cross into the area would eventually fall to Morales, who got off a bicycle kick that went horribly wide. A great counter ended with a great pass by Carrasquilla that found Juninho, who got off a terrible right footed shot that went well wide. A cross into the area was volleyed wide by Perea. America subbed out Carlos Alvarez for Miguel Borja. A great thru pass found a wide open Zendejas, who got off a bad left footed shot that went wide. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez and Juninho for Victor Arteaga and Alvaro Angulo. A cross into the area was volleyed wide from close range by Borja. A great combination play ended with Martin being brought down by Pablo Bennevendo in the area and the referee gave a Penalty Kick. Henry Martin stepped up to take the PK and got off a right footed shot past Navas to score and give America the 2-1 lead. America subbed out Alejandro Zendejas and Oscar Perea for Isaias Violante and Derek Jimenez. A minute after the play, off a free kick, Nathan would be brought down in the area by Ramos Mingo and a Penalty Kick was given to Pumas. Robert Morales stepped up to take the PK and got off a right footed shot past Malagon to score and tie the match at 2-2. In an incredible coincidence, just like in the first goal, Pumas had immediately copied America and scored in the same way. Pumas subbed out Uriel Antuna for Alan Medina. Violante got the ball in the area but his right footed shot was deflected wide. Off a free kick, Carrasquilla tried to surprise by taking a shot that went wide. Pumas tried a trick play off a free kick but Pedro Vite’s left footed shot went wide. America subbed out Erick Sanchez and Kevin Alvarez for Edwin Cerrillo and Dagoberto Espinoza. Pumas subbed out Pedro Vite for Luciano Herrera. Cerrillo got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went well wide. Huerta got off a right footed shot that Malagon had a little trouble with it but eventually held on to the ball. The game was finishing with end to end action from both sides but few chances in the final third. In the end neither team will have a final chance and the match ended in a lively but strange 2-2 match.
Pumas and America battled in another edition of the Clasico Capitalino that ended with a tie that hurt both teams in the end. America had lost their first place lead after Cruz Azul defeated Tigres and leaped over them. The tie now means that another Cruz Azul victory will force America to end in second place. Yet it’s much worse for Pumas who now needs to get a victory in their final match against Monterrey and for a couple of results to go their way to grab that final spot for the Liguilla. To make things worse, Pumas will need to do so without Pedro Vite who will be suspended because of Yellow cards. Pumas will host Monterrey at home while America travels to face off against Tigres.