The Pumas UNAMwho played more than half an hour with one less player on the pitch, tied this Tuesday goalless with Blue Cross and qualified for the final of the Champions League Concacaf.
Directed by the Argentine Andrés Lillini, the university students showed courage in adverse conditions and dried up the rival offense to eliminate the Celestes after winning the first leg 2-1 last Tuesday.
The Pumas had possession in favor in the first half, 52-48, but it was the Blues who had the best scoring opportunities, among them one with everything in favor of Chilean Iván Morales, who with a gross error let go of the goal that he put his team in the final.
In the second part, with a lot of fighting, the university students controlled against a Cruz Azul that looked for the opposite goal, but with few ideas. Defender Arturo Ortiz knocked down Santiago Giménez in a goal play by Cruz Azul and was expelled, however the sky-blue team was unable to take advantage of a rival who endured with more heart than football.
The last minutes were with some Pumas thrown back, with six defenders and the ‘Machine’ with crazy attacks as a boxer who threw slaps with his eyes closed. Pumas was close to converting in 98 when the Brazilian Rogerio crashed the ball into the post.
Pumas will play the final against the best between the New York FC and the Seattle Sounders of MLS, who will play this Wednesday at the home of the New Yorkers, losers 1-3 in the first leg. The Concacaf champion will play the Club World Cup.
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