Pumas joins Cruz Azul in CCL quarterfinals

October 1, 2009

Paco Palencia and Oscar Rojas scored second-half goals and Pumas became the second team to earn a place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 2-1 victory against W Connection on Wednesday.

Palencia’s 68th-minute tally negated Christain Viveros’ goal six minutes earlier – the only goal allowed at home by a Mexican team this year in the Champions League this year – and Rojas added the winner in the 85th, sending Pumas to the final eight along with Cruz Azul.

Pumas improved to 13 points and clinched a seeded berth in the quarterfinals as the winner of Group D. W Connection dropped to last with four, all but eliminated. To reach the quarterfinals, W Connection will need beat Real Espana on October 21 and have Pumas win at Comunicaciones a day later.

The result was a nice consolation for Pumas, which has won only one of 10 games in the Mexican Apertura this season and is 16th in the 18-team league.

Palencia’s goal changed the momentum that had been turning to W Connection since the start of the second half.

He chased down Ronauld Aguillera, who was dribbling out of his own penalty area. Palencia stole the ball just outside the area, turned and hit a right-footed shot that skimmed along the ground past goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams inside his right post.

Rojas’ winner came after he clipped the ball past second-half substitute Gerrard Williams and dribbled into the area before unleashing a right-footed shot past Jan Michael Williams from 11 meters.

Pumas dominated a first half that was marked by an intense rain and wind that mimicked hurricane conditions. The rain began about five minutes after kickoff, and then deluged the field for more than 10 minutes, forcing Jamaican referee to change his shoes to longer studs to get better traction.

Jan Michael Williams looked shaky at times, giving up three rebounds that he either recovered or were cleared off his line.

The rain subsided by halftime, and W Connection went ahead in the 62nd when Jonathan Frias settled a cross from the left, turned away from goal and continued the ball on to the right. Matthew Bartholemew tipped it, but Viveros ran onto and scored from the middle of the area.

MEXICO CITY

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