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Copa Sudamericana: Mexico's Pumas overcome The Strongest [Thu Sep 22nd, 2005]
Pumas of UNAM defeated The Strongest of Bolivia 3-1 in a Copa Sudamericana quarter-final first leg match played at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, in Mexico City.
Pumas came in to the match with very low morale, after not recording a win in their last six Mexican League matches, but they knew they had to get a good result at home if they wanted to keep alive their chances of reaching the next round, as the second leg takes place in the altitude of La Paz.
Pumas started strongly, and Argentine striker Bruno Marioni looked like he put the home side ahead, but he saw a powerful header strike the left post after an excellent cross from Jose Luis Lopez.
Pumas didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring, as in the 5th minute Bruno Marioni put them ahead after meeting a through ball from Gonzalo Pineda, and drilled the ball past a hapless Carlos Arias in the The Strongest goal.
Pablo Escobar came close to putting the Bolivians on level terms, when he had a rocket flash wide of the right post.
Just two minutes before half-time former Once Caldas striker Antonio De Nigris doubled Pumas’ lead when he beat three Bolivian players in the box and headed in, after Pineda sent in an inviting cross from the right hand side.
In the 52nd minute veteran midfielder Hector Cristaldo, who represented Bolivia in the 1994 World Cup, was given his marching orders after a violent tackle.
It seemed that the numerical disadvantage would destroy the Bolivian side, but in the 84th minute Pablo Escobar pulled a goal back. Escobar had a good shot saved by Pumas goalkeeper Sergio Bernal, but the striker reacted quickly to head in the rebound, and gave the Bolivians a crucial away goal.
In the 89th minute Pumas were reduced to ten men after Gonzalo Pineda brought down a Bolivian player.
In the 90th minute, substitute Martin Cardetti headed in after Carlos Arias childishly spilled a De Nigris header to give the Mexican side a well deserved 3-1 victory.
Pumas take a good advantage into the second leg that will be played on the 5th of October at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz.
Gregory Sica
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