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.
Showing posts with label Pachuca. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pachuca. Show all posts
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Mexico Match Thoughts: CD Guadalajara vs. Pachuca
Now this was the kind of match you'd expect from the Primera Division. Chances on both sides, goals, red cards, you name it. Chivas controlled most of the match, but in the end, Pachuca snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat, barely.
After a lot of back and forth play, Chivas finally opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Miguel Ponce sent a low pass along the ground centering into the six. Marco Fabian slid into the six and toe poked it past the 'keeper to give the Goats the 1-0 lead. It was a solid play and enough to give Chivas the half time advantage.
After a pretty tame first half, all hell broke loose in the second half. In the 49th minute, Chivas 'keeper Luis Michel smacked Pachuca defender Javier Mustafa with the ball. Mustafa then kicked Michel in the groin. Both players were shown the red card and a penalty was awarded to Pachuca for the original foul on Mustafa. Chivas back up 'keeper Victor Hernandez came in but couldn't stop Enrique Esqueda's PK, and the match was even at 1-1.
This didn't stop Chivas from keeping up the attack though. It only took them eleven minutes to retake the lead. Jesus Sanchez sent a ball in that Erick Torres knocked home to give Chivas the 2-1 lead.
As we went into stoppage time, it looked like the lead would hold up and the Torres goal would be the winner. Pachuca had other ideas though. Their salvation came again in the form of Esqueda, who escaped the Goat defense and smashed the equalizer into the upper 90. Chivas couldn't threaten in the last minute or so, and the full time result was 2-2.
The result might prove costly for Chivas, especially in light of Cruz Azul's win earlier. When you stop and consider that a good portion of it was directly due to their lack of discipline, it makes it even worse.
After a lot of back and forth play, Chivas finally opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Miguel Ponce sent a low pass along the ground centering into the six. Marco Fabian slid into the six and toe poked it past the 'keeper to give the Goats the 1-0 lead. It was a solid play and enough to give Chivas the half time advantage.
After a pretty tame first half, all hell broke loose in the second half. In the 49th minute, Chivas 'keeper Luis Michel smacked Pachuca defender Javier Mustafa with the ball. Mustafa then kicked Michel in the groin. Both players were shown the red card and a penalty was awarded to Pachuca for the original foul on Mustafa. Chivas back up 'keeper Victor Hernandez came in but couldn't stop Enrique Esqueda's PK, and the match was even at 1-1.
This didn't stop Chivas from keeping up the attack though. It only took them eleven minutes to retake the lead. Jesus Sanchez sent a ball in that Erick Torres knocked home to give Chivas the 2-1 lead.
As we went into stoppage time, it looked like the lead would hold up and the Torres goal would be the winner. Pachuca had other ideas though. Their salvation came again in the form of Esqueda, who escaped the Goat defense and smashed the equalizer into the upper 90. Chivas couldn't threaten in the last minute or so, and the full time result was 2-2.
The result might prove costly for Chivas, especially in light of Cruz Azul's win earlier. When you stop and consider that a good portion of it was directly due to their lack of discipline, it makes it even worse.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Mexico Match Thoughts: Pachuca vs. America
So far I hadn't caught a match featuring either of these two teams during Apertura 2011, so I was keen to take in this one and cross them both off the list, or if you prefer, add the tags to my blog.
America came into the match on 8 points, Pachuca with 7. Obviously they were hoping to ride their home crowd past America and further up the table.
Pachuca really came out on the front foot, with a lot of attacking and possession. Honestly it seemed to me throughout the whole first half that the heads of the America players just weren't in the match. I don't speak much Spanish, so I don't know if the announcers would have validated it, but that's what it looked like to me.
In fact, Pachuca had all the chances in the first half as America failed to register a shot, leaving Calero lonely in the Pachuca goal. His friends made feel better though, particularly Felix Borja. In the 16th minute he took a gorgeous through ball and went on an angle in the back of the net to give Pachuca the 1-0 lead. Then he pulled a Lucha Libre mask from his sock and wore it in celebration, for which he got a yellow card. Great celebration though. It would be the only goal Pachuca would need and they led 1-0 at half time.
Whatever America's coach said to them at half time seemed to work. They came out much more aggressive. Not on fire mind you, but they finally looked like they wanted to play the match. They carved out two or three good chances in the opening 10 minutes, but Calero stood firm in goal for Pachuca.
In the 65th minute, Pachuca put the match away for good. Feliz Borja was again the man up to the task as he headed in a gorgeous long cross from Hernandez to make it 2-0. Then in the 78th minute, America really blew it as Valenzuela went into Edy Brambila with a nasty two footed challenge and received a red card. That ended any slim hope America had and Pachuca took the match by the 2-0 margin.
America came into the match on 8 points, Pachuca with 7. Obviously they were hoping to ride their home crowd past America and further up the table.
Pachuca really came out on the front foot, with a lot of attacking and possession. Honestly it seemed to me throughout the whole first half that the heads of the America players just weren't in the match. I don't speak much Spanish, so I don't know if the announcers would have validated it, but that's what it looked like to me.
In fact, Pachuca had all the chances in the first half as America failed to register a shot, leaving Calero lonely in the Pachuca goal. His friends made feel better though, particularly Felix Borja. In the 16th minute he took a gorgeous through ball and went on an angle in the back of the net to give Pachuca the 1-0 lead. Then he pulled a Lucha Libre mask from his sock and wore it in celebration, for which he got a yellow card. Great celebration though. It would be the only goal Pachuca would need and they led 1-0 at half time.
Whatever America's coach said to them at half time seemed to work. They came out much more aggressive. Not on fire mind you, but they finally looked like they wanted to play the match. They carved out two or three good chances in the opening 10 minutes, but Calero stood firm in goal for Pachuca.
In the 65th minute, Pachuca put the match away for good. Feliz Borja was again the man up to the task as he headed in a gorgeous long cross from Hernandez to make it 2-0. Then in the 78th minute, America really blew it as Valenzuela went into Edy Brambila with a nasty two footed challenge and received a red card. That ended any slim hope America had and Pachuca took the match by the 2-0 margin.
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