Full passion, excellent soccer and unexpected surprises were the highlights from Liguilla Quarterfinals Clausura 2009. Pachuca vs. Indios and Pumas vs. Puebla will be shown this week at the Semifinal round and only two of them will kick off in 'La Gran Final'.
Indios has convinced everybody that it is still the 'dark horse' in the Mexican Championship. Toluca, one of the two best teams in Clausura, came up short in an attempt to eliminate Ciudad Juarez from the Quarterfinals. In the first leg, 'The Tribe' received constant pressure from the Champion. However, Hector Eugui's team showed great form and took advantage of a dubious foul inside the defending team's penalty area.
Red's captain Paulo da Silva fouled Javier Malagueño. Referee Roberto Garcia then gave the most important opportunity to Manuel Perez who scored (54') the only goal in the match.
The second leg, celebrated in La Bombonera at Toluca, was intense. There was a clear chance for Hector Mancilla who let Ciudad Juarez's goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo off the hook. 'Manzhina', this season's top scorer in Mexico, missed a 'mano a mano' in minute three, driving the ball into Saucedo's body.
The next 87 minutes were all Toluca. The club's pressure never stopped, but Cirilo, the former player for Leon, Veracruz and Tigres, played the best game of his career. At the end of the match, Hernan Cristante, Diablos Rojos' veteran goalkeeper, grew angry because of the awful result and insulted referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez.
'Chiquidracula' did not think twice about his decision and showed the red card to the Argentinean.
After eliminating Chivas, America and Toluca, Indios will face a new challenge in the Clausura's leader: Pachuca Tuzos. A 5-1 score over Chiapas gave Pachuca the honor to be considered the favorite to win the trophy.
The first leg, played at Tuxtla Gutierrez, was controlled by Tuzos who smashed Jaguars 3-1 at the Mexican Jungle. Goals from Paul Aguilar (3'), José Francisco Torres (21') and Gilberto Mora (own-goal 87') worked the triumph for Pachuca's manager Enrique Meza. Argentinean Neri Cardozo (39') scored as well.
The second encounter went to for Pachuca, too. At Hidalgo Stadium, Tuzos defeated Jaguares 2-0 and kicked them out of Liguilla. Gabriel Caballero (45') and 'Chaco' Giménez (50') produced the victory for "Ojitos" Meza.
Meanwhile, Puebla struck again. Monterrey was the new victim and the 5-2 score gave new strength to the white and blue team that has not won the title since the 1989-90 season.
The first battle was practically won 3-1 by José Luis Sánchez Solá and his crew in only 6 minutes thanks to Gerardo Galindo (own goal 4') and Uruguayan Alejandro Acosta (6') goals. Rayados' manager Victor Manuel Vucetich could not believe his eyes as 'keeper Christian Martinez gave Puebla's strikers a lot of chances and his mistakes were reflected in the final score.
It is important to remember that Puebla was the best away team in Clausura, with 17 points (5 wins, 2 ties and 2 loses) in the regular campaign. La Franja did it again and scored in the first minutes without any response. Once again, Alex Acosta (14') headed the ball and the contest for the local team appeared tough.
In the second-half, Honduran midfielder Ramon Nuñez gave a terrific pass to Orlando Rincon who scored to make it 2-0 for the visitor. 'Chelís', Puebla's coach, knew his team had the ticket in his pocket and waited for the conclusion.
Goals from William Paredes (58') and Abraham Carreño (77') tried to help Monterrey, but the outcome did not change. Puebla will play against Pumas UNAM in Semifinals.
Pumas fell to Tecos in an important Universities confrontation in the Quarterfinals. UAG won the first battle 2-0 thanks to Adrián Morales (50') and Rodrigo Ruiz (86') goals.
But UNAM's team came back just before the end of the first half, which was initiated by Dante Lopez (45'). Pumas needed only one goal to equalize the score.
Juan Francisco Palencia drew the game 2-2 when there were only five minutes left. But Ricardo Ferretti, Pumas manager, finally breathed easier when David Toledo destroyed Tecos' illusion for Liguilla in the 90th minute.
