OneFootball
Brendan Doherty·10 December 2018
OneFootball
Brendan Doherty·10 December 2018
A 1-1 draw in the first leg of the series from University Olympic Stadium on Thursday 6 December set up the return leg perfectly.
AmĂ©ricaâs goal away from home required Pumas to attack at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday but the home team had too much firepower.
Pumas goalkeeper Alfredo SaldĂvar will not look back fondly on this match, not just because the opponent dropped a half-dozen on him but because of his personal errors back when the match was close.
Renato Ibarra opened the scoring in the eighth minute on a shot that passed through SaldĂvarâs hands.
Paraguayan forward Carlos GonzĂĄlez equalised with a pinpoint header on Pablo Barreraâs cross in the 24th minute but the parity was short-lived. His compatriot in opposing colours, Bruno Valdez, restored AmĂ©ricaâs lead on a corner kick from Mateus Uribe just four minutes later.
Ibarra turned provider to set up an acrobatic finish from Roger MartĂnez after SaldĂvar committed another grave mistake.
The goalkeeper tried to play the ball with his feet but could not control it, allowing Uribe to quickly move the ball to Ibarra, who found MartĂnez while SaldĂvar was still stranded.
After the intermission, the azulcrema got right back to work. A low corner kick bounced through the box to Guido RodrĂguez and the Argentine midfielder fired his strike into the back of the net in the 46th minute.
18-year-old starlet Diego Lainez got in on the action just four minutes later on an assist from Ibarra.
Emmanuel Aguilera scored his sideâs sixth goal in the 71st minute from the penalty spot after SaldĂvar and defender Alejandro Arribas combined for a foul on MartĂnez.
Even though the goals ended with nearly 20 minutes to go, the action didnât cease. Alan Mozo was issued a straight red card in the 80th minute for a reckless and forceful challenge on Lainez near the center of the field.
In emphatic fashion, Club América have embarrassed Pumas and set up a two-legged series against fierce rivals Cruz Azul.
The matches will be on Thursday 13 and Sunday 16 December at the Azteca Stadium.