GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Four Americans were involved on Wednesday in the third round of group matches in the Copa MX.
José Torres captained Pachuca for the second consecutive cup game and continued his good early season form, starting the move that led to the Tuzos' opening goal just before halftime with a neat cross-field pass.
Pachuca went on to win the game against La Piedad 3-0, but Torres was hauled off after 45 minutes, with coach Hugo Sánchez no doubt having one eye on Saturday's home game against Club Tijuana. The win puts Pachuca in pole position in Group 7 of the new Copa MX with seven points, one more than Atlante.
At Pumas UNAM's Estadio Olímpico, meanhile, it was a night to forget for Sonny Guadarrama. The Texan forward came off the bench in the 62 minute, got booked two minutes later and was eventually shown a straight red in the last minute of the game for raising his arm while trying to get past a Pumas player.
In between all that, 10-man Pumas grabbed the only goal of the game to take the three points and consign Mérida to last place in Group 6 with just one point.
Isaac Acuña started up front for the Venados and was hacked down in the 58th minute, leading to Fernando Espinosa receiving a red for Pumas.
Finally, Adrian Ruelas got the nod to start upfront for Veracruz after he netted against Club América in the Estadio Azteca last month, but the Tiburones Rojos were down 3-0 against Querétaro inside 30 minutes and Ruelas was taken off at halftime.
Veracruz remain on three points in fourth place in Group 5, with only the group leaders and the best runner-up going through.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
