‘Pumitas’ come up short in InterLiga
Pumas UNAM was not Pumas UNAM for InterLiga. Not in the eyes of the Mexican media, at least.
The Mexican press corps dubbed the team “Pumitas” -- characterizing it as a younger, inferior version of the regular team -- because Pumas UNAM decided not to bring its best players to the InterLiga tournament.
Having lost to Atlante last month in Mexico’s fall season finals, Pumas decided not to bring its starters so they could be rested for the start of the spring season, which begins Jan. 18.
The result of that decision was an early exit from InterLiga.
“Pumitas” lost to Cruz Azul, 1-0, on Tuesday night in front of 9,895 at the Home Depot Center in the second game of a doubleheader.
Gaston Caprari and Ismael Iniquez had great opportunities to score for Pumas, but they lacked the experienced touch to put the ball in the back of the net. On each of those chances, veteran Cruz Azul goalkeeper Oscar “El Conejo” Perez stopped the shots at close range. Perez is a two-time World Cup participant.
Cruz Azul began the game in a 4-5-1 formation that put an emphasis on defense and counterattacking. The strategy worked as it was a counterattack play that led to Cruz Azul’s goal.
Midfielder Cesar Villaluz began the play from about the midfield with a long ball to Nicolas Vigneri, who got behind the defense during the pass. Vigneri went around Pumas goalkeeper Alejandro Palacios easily and tapped the ball into an empty net.
Villaluz, a starter on Mexico’s Under-23 Olympic team, missed a chance to add to Cruz Azul’s lead later in the game when he pushed a shot inches wide to his left. The young midfielder will be back at the Home Depot Center in March, this time with Mexico for the Olympic qualifiers.
Cruz Azul, which began the night tied with Pumas in points, advances to Saturday’s finals as the second-place team from Group B. San Luis, which lost to Monterrey, 1-0, in the first game Tuesday, advances as the first-place team and will play the second-place team from Group A.
Saturday’s matchups will be decided after tonight’s doubleheader, which features Morelia versus Toluca at 6 p.m. and Atlas against Club America at 8:15.
The winners of Saturday’s games clinch spots in Copa Libertadores, the prestigious South American club tournament that begins in February. Mexico is assigned three spots in Libertadores; one spot was assigned to Chivas Guadalajara and the other two are won here in InterLiga.
In Tuesday’s first game, San Luis, having already clinched a spot in Saturday’s games, didn’t risk much and rested some starters -- including the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Alfredo Moreno, and U.S.-born defenseman Michael Orozco.
Monterrey came out with nothing to lose, having already been eliminated, and beat San Luis, 1-0, on a goal by Humberto Suazo in the 12th minute. Monterrey played most of the game with 10 men after Jose Gonzalez was red-carded in the 37th minute. San Luis, however, was unable to crack Monterrey’s defense, which didn’t risk much after taking the lead.
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