GUADALAJARA, Mexico — DaMarcus Beasley made the dream start on his unofficial debut for FC Puebla on Wednesday by heading in the winning goal in the 85th minute to send his team through to the final of the preseason Copa Tijuana tournament.
Puebla dominated the game against CONCACAF Champions Monterrey, but unsuccessful penalty kicks in each half threatened to leave La Franja with nothing to show for it.
Beasley, who garnered Player of the Game honors from El Sol de Tijuana, earned one of the penalties in the 16th minute, but Puebla’s former Mexico international Gonzalo Pineda directed the kick wide of the right post.
After another miss from the penalty spot, Puebla finally got the breakthrough they needed in the 85th minute when Beasley, 29, met a cross with a header that left Monterrey’s ‘keeper Jonathan Orozco with no chance.
The game was the first defeat of Monterrey’s preseason campaign. Puebla will face San Luis, which feature American midfielder Michael Orozco Fiscal, in the final of the Copa Tijuana preseason tournament on Saturday evening.
