Pachuca and Pumas end in a tie that hurts both teams’ postseason chances

Pachuca and Pumas ended their Saturday match with one point each after a 1-1 tie. Pumas took the lead, but wasn’t able to hold on to it after Pachuca came back strong in the second half and were able to get a tie. The single point doesn’t help either team get into the repechaje zone, and increased their pressure on their midweek matches against San Luis and Santos respectively.

The first half started with Pumas once again making changes by getting Washington Corozo and Cristian Battochio back in the starting lineup, while Pachuca went with their normal starting lineup as both teams knew it was a key match for them. Pumas could have had a good chance with a long ball to Juan Ignacio Dinenno, but Pachuca’s goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made a great job in rushing out and heading the ball before it got to him. Later they wasted a great cross into the area that Corozo volleyed wide. It was a very even match with both teams trading possession, but with Pumas having the most dangerous opportunities. Then after a great run from Dinenno through the left side, he made a pass into the area and Washington Corozo was able to get a left footed shot that went past Ustari for the 1-0 lead. Off a free kick, Pachuca came close with a header from Gustavo Cabral that went wide. Pumas was close to scoring when Corozo got off a good shot from outside the area, forcing Ustari to make a great save. Minutes later Corozo would crash into the commercial boards and looked to have injured himself, needing medical treatment. Pachuca then had a good chance when Nicolas Ibañez rose to head a cross in the area, but it went wide. It would be the last play as the halftime whistle blew almost immediately.

The second half started with both teams coming out with the same lineup. Pachuca had their best opportunity when a cross into the area found a wide open Bryan Gonzalez, who got a left volleyed shot that hit the post before the ball bounced into the arms of Pumas’ goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera after Ibañez crashed into it. Pachuca then subbed out Bryan Gonzalez and Jamaziel Marchand for Aviles Hurtado and Luis Chavez. Pachuca came close again when Ibañez did a bicycle kick, but his shot was deflected into a corner kick. Pachuca had finally gained the upper hand as they looked for the tie. Pumas subbed out Washington Corozo and Leonel Lopez for Sebastian Saucedo and Erik Lira. Talavera then had to go out to clear a ball in what could have been a good chance for Pachuca. Pachuca subbed out Romario Ibarra and Victor Guzman for Roberto de la Rosa and Ismael Sosa. Pachuca wasted an incredible opportuity when Aviles Hurtado rose alone to head a ball from close range, but incredibly it went wide. Pumas answered with a shot from Saucedo that Ustari was able to save. Hurtado then wasted another chance after a cross into the area was deflected into his path, but he shot wide from close range again. Pumas subbed out Cristian Battochio (who gave a poor performance) for Alek Alvarez. Later Favio Alvarez was subbed out for Diogo de Oliveira. Then after a cross into the area that fell to Hurtado, Alan Mozo tripped him and a penalty kick was given. Yairo Moreno stepped up to take the penalty and with a left footed shot scored the 1-1 equalizer. Pumas almost responded immediately with a header by Diogo from close range that went wide. Pachuca then sub out an injured Aviles Hurtado (from the foul that drew the penalty kick) for Santiago Mosquera.

While both teams got out with a point, it wasn’t the best result for either side. Pumas ended their three game winning streak, although they increased their undefeated run to four. Pachuca grabbed a point in a match where they were losing at home, and with a performance in which they never threatened Talavera in the first half. Both teams are out of the repechaje zone, although they will both take part of the three midweek postponed matches. Pachuca will remain at home and face a key match against Atletico San Luis, while Pumas is also at home to face Santos Laguna. All those matches will be key, as neither team can slip or they will go into very tough last match day in a clear disadvantage.