Late equalizer by Norales earns Marathon 1:1 draw with Cruz Azul in Champions League

October 8, 2008

MEXICO CITY – Erick Norales scored in the 88th minute to rally 10-man CD Marathon to a 1:1 draw with Cruz Azul on Tuesday, leaving both tied atop Group A in the CONCACAF Champions League™.

Norales converted with a header off a free kick, his second goal in the tournament, four minutes after Juan Carlos Garcia had been ejected with his second yellow card.

The result gave Cruz Azul, winless in its last four in the Apertura and which has fallen to sixth overall, and Marathon seven points atop Group A, one ahead of Deportivo Saprissa, which plays pointless D.C. United on Thursday.

Javier Orozco scored his tournament-leading sixth goal early to give Cruz Azul the lead. Orozco, a 20-year-old attacker who has played only eight minutes so far in Cruz Azul’s 11 matches in the Mexican Apertura, rand onto a through ball out of the back in the 14th minute and one-touched it with his left foot under Marathon goalkeeper Juan Angel Gutierrez and just inside the far post.

Orozco scored his five other goals in the Preliminary Round, three in the first leg and two more in the second leg of a 12:0 aggregate victory over Hankook Verdes of Belize. Gregory Richardson of Joe Public FC is second among the scoring leaders with five goals.

The draw extended Marathon’s good form against Cruz Azul, having beaten the Mexican side 2:0 three weeks ago in the opening round of the group phase.

Cruz Azul had the better possession and chances, with Orozco twice shooting wide on threatening opportunities in the first 20 minutes.

Marathon managed a brief flurry midway through the first half, forcing its best chance – a header from a corner kick — to be cleared off the line in the 24th.

Cruz Azul again had better possession and chances in the second half, but Marathon threatened occasionally, forcing goalkeeper Alfonso Blanco off his line to clear a ball, who had to scramble back toward his goal and lunge to block a shot by Marvin Chavez in the 69th.

Garcia’s second yellow card was one was of five shown to the Honduran club and one of eight in the match issued by Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres. Cruz Azul next faces D.C. United at home before finishing its group schedule at Saprissa. Marathon returns home in two weeks for its next game against Saprissa before finishing at D.C. United.

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