Cruz Azul blows lead in CU and splits points with Pumas

After a challenging game against Club America last weekend, Pumas hosted the current Leagues Cup champion Cruz Azul. The teams started the match outside the Liguilla zone, and unfortunately for them, it’s past the halfway point of the tournament.

The match began with high intensity, and it seemed like a game promising plenty of goals. Cruz Azul had the first clear opportunity with a play that started on a cross and continued with a shot that Alfredo Saldivar blocked and a second shot that ended up hitting the post.

UNAM also had opportunities they weren’t able to finish. The first half was very exciting with the home team closing up the first 45 minutes playing superior to La Maquina. It looked like Pumas would’ve taken the three points if they kept playing with the intensity they finished the first part of the game.

To everyone’s surprise, Jonathan Rodriguez opened up the score in the 48th minute with a right-footed kick that went under Fernando Quintana’s legs as he tried to block it. The game continued with Robert Siboldi’s team attacking nonstop. Los Universitarios didn’t seem to wake up and didn’t attack until the 60th minute.

Finally, when the home team made the substitutions, they began to be more aggressive, although with no reward. It wasn’t until the 88th minute when Juan Iturbe made a long-distance shot that Pumas got their goal after Jesus Corona came out playing the ball on the ground. Once again Cruz Azul blows a lead and lets themselves be tied in the last few minutes of a game. With six draws, La Maquina is the team with most tied games in the tournament.

With a double round set next week, Cruz Azul will receive Monterrey on Wednesday night. For their part Pumas will rest midweek, before resuming play next weekend.