Tigres UANL took an early lead 1-0 when Itamar Batista scored 11 minutes in of their opening match of Inter Liga 2010 with Puebla FC. However, La Franja answered with a pair of unanswered goals in the first half by Alvaro Gonzalez and two more from Carlos Ruiz in the second for a 4-1 win at Pizza Hut Park.
Sunday's match was a study in sharp contrasts. Tigres were fresh off a season where they missed the Apertura playoffs while Puebla FC just completed a successful season where they finished seventh in the overall table of Mexico's First Division and qualified for the postseason.
However, the contrasts didn't end there. Tigres are well versed in the workings of InterLiga and how to be successful -- the club from Monterrey won the event in both 2005 and 2006, making them the only two-time champs in InterLiga history. Puebla, on the other hand, were making their Inter Liga debut.
At least early on, it was La Franja who controlled the run of play. About eight minutes in, Puebla defender Orlando Rincon sent a nice cross into the Tigres box, but midfielder David Toledo tapped it wide right. However, his effort was deflected before trickling over the end line, setting up a corner kick, which the Camoteros were unable to do anything with.
Following a 40-yard free kick in the 10th minute off the feet of Puebla defender Gilberto Mora that was saved by Tigres goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo, the two-time champs quickly pushed the ball up the pitch.
Tigres playmaker Lucas Lobos started things off nicely with a well-placed ball from the left flank that was deflected by Gaston Fernandez. The carom fell to Brazilian striker Itamar Batista, who quickly converted from about 10 yards away to give his club an early 1-0 edge.
After Batista's goal, things were largely quiet until Puebla drew things level in the 19th minute, when Gonzalez got the first of his two goals. Camoteros captain Luis Miguel Orozco set the table with a nice cross toward the far post, which was headed closer to goal by Mora. Gonzalez rushed over and knocked the ball into the top of the net for the equalizer.
Batista had additional opportunities to add to the Tigres total in both the 17th and 24th minutes, but on both occasions his shots sailed high. The Brazilian striker had another chance just before halftime but was whistled for a foul inside the Puebla box.
Following a shot by Ruiz from about 35 yards in the 28th that sailed high, La Franja took their first lead thanks to Gonzalez's second goal of the day in the 32nd minute. A cross by Rincon started off the sequence for Puebla. Tigres defender Jose Gonzalez deflected the ball, which once again fell to Alvaro Gonzalez and he converted for a 2-1 edge.
Just seconds before the end of the opening frame, Tigres missed a golden opportunity when Lobos dashed up the middle of the field and laid off a great ball to an onrushing Jesus Molina on the right flank. Unfortunately for the visitors, Molina failed to strike the ball squarely and his shot sailed high.
Tigres looked to draw things level just after the break, but another shot by Batista in the 52nd went wide right. He then came out of the game five minutes later in favor of Roberto Juarez.
In the 53rd, Puebla was dealt a blow when Alvaro Gonzalez was involved in a collision with a Tigres player, which gave him a bloody nose. He was attended to by the Camoteros training staff for several minutes on the sideline before Juan Garcia entered the game for him in the 57th minute.
Ruiz's goal in the 71st made the outcome academic. After getting the ball about 25 yards from goal, "El Pescadito" displayed some of his patented footwork to create a little space between himself and a Tigres defender. The Guatemalan-born striker then knocked it home from the top of the arc to give Puebla FC some breathing room and a 3-1 lead.
His goal came in his first appearance in Frisco since he was traded from FC Dallas of MLS to Los Angeles following the 2007 season. Ruiz played for FCD between 2005 and 2007 and netted 31 goals in 68 games. Earlier in the week, he admitted that returning to Frisco was a big deal and that he continued to have fond memories of his time in North Texas.
Following the third Puebla goal, Tigres showed plenty of mettle and mounted a serious push to makes things interesting in the final 15 minutes. On at least two occasions, Camoteros goalkeeper Jorge VillaPondo was forced to come up with a couple of big stops to preserve his club's two-goal advantage.
In the 80th minute, a shot by Fernandez was played perfectly by VillaPondo. And three minutes later, Tigres midfielder Francisco "Kikin" Fonseca had a one-on-one opportunity, but the Puebla FC 'keeper again prevailed, making a huge stop on the Tigres veteran.
Ruiz's second goal also showcased his strong finishing ability. Rincon got his second assist of the game on the tally, delivering a perfectly placed cross from the right flank. Ruiz quickly gained possession and punched one into the right side of the net for his second goal of the day, which made the score 4-1.
Both clubs return to action on Tuesday night in Houston. Tigres will face their archrival Monterrey in a match set for a 9 p.m. CT kickoff from Robertson Stadium while Puebla FC and Jaguares meet in the first match of the evening. That one will start at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to InterLiga.com.
