This was definitely was one of the better matches I've seen out of Mexico this year. Okay, well maybe not the best played, but it really was entertaining. I don't know all of the history of the Primera Division that well, but it's certainly one of the best comebacks I've seen as a footy fan.
So why exactly did Pachuca have to execute such a comeback in the first place? It really was a nightmare start for the visitors. In fact I don't think I could say I've ever seen a worse start to a match. Toluca brought the ball into the area right off the kick off, and tried a cross. The ball deflected off of Pachuca defender Javier Munoz Mustafa and into the net to make it 1-0 after just 14 seconds. Damn.
Life didn't get any better for Pachuca in the early going either. After what was to happen in the 9th minute, Mustafa probably just wished he could just go back to bed. He brought down Toluca's Ivan Alonso in the box to concede a PK. Oops. Alonso then in turn iced the spot kick to make it 2-0 to Toluca on 11 minutes.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Pachuca, it did. In the 16th minute Nestor Calderon ended up with the ball after a short corner. He blasted it into the top corner of the far post to make it 3-0. There was absolutely nothing the 'keeper could do about it. At least that goal wasn't self inflicted though.
It looked like the route was on, and Toluca continued to go through the rest of the first half controlling possession, but Pachuca had no intention of going away. Their weapon of choice to get back into the match was the counter attack. They sprung the first in the 36th minute as Mauro Cejas streaked into the Toluca eighteen and slid the ball past the 'keeper to make it 3-1.
Still, Toluca didn't panic. The thought had to be to get into the half without giving up another goal and regroup. Again, Pachuca had other ideas. They struck on another counter in the 41st minute as Daniel Arguello nailed a GOLAZO from the top of the box into the top of the net to make it 3-2 going into the interval.
The second half had a very different tone, and Pachuca was in charge, despite being down a goal. Toluca just looked like they had completely fallen out of a match they once led by three goals. The equalizer finally came in the 64th minute when Marco Bueno Ontiveros knocked in a cross off of his foot to make it 3-3.
Toluca gained a little life after that, but never really threatened to take the 3 points back. Their best chance came in the 69th minute as Esquivel forced a save out of the 'keeper, but that was about all Toluca could manage.
The match went into stoppage time and looked to be headed for a certain draw, but Pachuca took the chance to seize the three points late. In the 1st minute of added time, Ontiveros broke free and got one on one with Toluca keeper Alfredo Talavera. Talavera made a diving stab for the ball near the top of the area, but brought down Ontiveros in the process, conceding a PK. It was the right call, and Talavera really didn't put up much of a fight. In the end, Cejas stepped up and converted the penalty to give Pachuca a 3-4 win. All in all a thrilling conclusion to an entertaining if sloppy match.
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