F.C. Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero slowly walked away from his goal Sunday.
His body language depicted he was glad the first of two InterLiga finals at The Home Depot Center was over. Another day's work complete.
But days that feature a goalkeeper who receives three goals, scores one of his own and blocks three penalty kicks don't come very often.
Calero stopped two Jorge Acucharro penalty kicks to help Pachuca beat Atlas 10-9 in a lengthy shootout after a 3-3 draw in regulation.
Achcharro's second miss marked Atlas' 13th penalty kick. Like his second miss, Achucarro sent his shot to the right into a diving Calero.
Paul Aguilar converted the winning penalty kick for Pachuca, also on the team's 13th attempt.
"I remained calm," Calero said about enduring a long shootout. "I think these scenarios are made for the best goalies in the world to step up and come through. This time it was my turn."
Calero blocked a penalty kick to help Pachuca beat the Los Angeles Galaxy in the championship match of the 2007 SuperLiga, a tournament between Mexican and Major League Soccer clubs.
Against Atlas, who scored three second half goals to send the match into a shootout, Calero stopped penalty kicks from Luis Enrique Robles and a pair from Achucarro.
"He's an angel out there," said Pachuca midfielder Jose Torres. "He's also a monster under goal. He saved us once again."
And Calero also helped put the Tuzo's in a favorable position to obtain a pass into Copa Libertadores, South America's prestigious tournament that begins next month.
The Chivas-Morelia result in the night cap of the doubleheader will determine the tournament champion that earns the second slot in Libertadores allotted for Mexican teams. The InterLiga champion with the most points earned during group play clinches that spot. The other, earns a play-in home and away series against La Universidad de Chile Jan. 28 and Feb. 4.
For now, Pachuca will soak in the win against an Atlas team that could be deemed InterLiga's comeback kids.
Achucarro couldn't find the net in penalty kicks, but his goal in the 88th minute sent the match into the shootout. The Mexican Federation (FMF) eliminated the rule that allowed for two 15 minute overtime periods.
"Unfortunately it was my turn to miss," Achucarro said. "But I can't dwell on that. I have to keep my head up and look forward.. I don't feel like a hero for scoring in the last minute. We lost. Penalty kicks are a lottery."
Achucarro extended the match by sending a header floating over the head of a charging Calero, who was caught off guard.
Jorge Torres Nilo sent a floating pass to Achucarro from about 25 yards out, finding his teammate behind the Tuzo's defense.
That marked the second time Achucarro saved his club from elimination. The Paraguayan forward propelled Atlas into the finals with an injury time goal in a 4-1 rout of Club America Friday.
This time, however, it was Pachuca who survived.
After Gonzalo Vargas got Atlas on the board in the 49th minute, Tuzos defender Leobardo Lopez headed a ball into his own net while trying to clear an Atlas centered pass into the penalty area. That 71st-minute gaffe cut Pachuca's lead to 3-2. It also sparked life into an Atlas team that was staring at elimination before upsetting America in the group stage.
Edgar Benitez scored a pair of goals in the 14th and 17th minutes to give the Tuzos a 2-0 lead. Christian Gimenez scored in the 38th minute to give Pachuca a 3-0 lead at the half.
Calero cited fatigue in letting the three goal advantage slip away. The final marked Pachuca's fourth match in nine days. The Tuzos came into InterLiga with little time to rest after competing in the FIFA Club World Cup last month, just days after completing the Mexican Apertura.
"I think we got tired," Calero said. "I think we deserve a vacation. We've been overworked. But fortunately all that is behind us."
Ivan Orozco is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
FINAL 1: PACHUCA - ATLAS 3:3 (10:9 PSO)
01.11.2009: Carson, CA - Home Depot Center
Attendance/ Asistencia: 27,000 (Sellout); R: Jair Marrufo (USA)
PAC: 10 - Edgar Benitez, 14', 17'; 19 - Christian Giménez, 34'; ATL: 9 - Gonzalo Vargas, 49'; Own goal (2 - Leobardo López), 71'; 17 - Jorge Achucarro, 88'
PAC: 1 - Miguel Calero (GK), 2 - Leobardo López, 4 - Marco Iván Pérez, 6 - Jaime Correa, 22 - Paúl Aguilar, 26 - Javier Munoz, 18 - José Francisco Torres, 19 - Christian Giménez (7 - Damián Álvarez, 72'), 21 - Blas Perez, 10 - Edgar Benitez (8 - Gabriel Caballero, 54'), 11 - José Maria Cárdenas (16 - Carlos Gerardo Rodriguez, 59')
ATL: 21 - Pedro Hernandez (GK), 2 - Ismael Fuentes, 4 - Luis Enrique Robles, 16 - Hugo Ayala, 30 - Darwin Chávez, 8 - Lucas Ayala, 18 - Dario Botinelli (22 - Edgar Pacheco, 64'), 9 - Gonzalo Vargas (25 - Carlos Gutierrez, 81'), 11 - Bruno Marioni, 17 - Jorge Achucarro, 55 - Oscar Vera (6 - Jorge Torres Nilo, 38')
Booked /Amonestado: PAC: 22 - Paúl Aguilar 70'; ATL: 16 - Hugo Ayala 41', 17 - Jorge Achucarro 43', 16 - Hugo Ayala 46+', 11 - Bruno Marioni 86'
Sent off / Expulsado: ATL: 16 - Hugo Ayala 46+'
