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InterLiga: Explosive Pachuca Debut
In the inaugural matchday of the Torneo InterLiga 2009, Toluca and Morelia shared spoils in a poor encounter, while Pachuca completely dominated and thrashed Tecos.
Jan 3, 2009 2:51:18 AM
Matchday 1: Friday, January 2
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
Toluca 1 - 1 Monarcas Morelia
Tecos 0 - 4 Pachuca
Toluca 1 - 1 Monarcas Morelia
The Torneo Interliga 2009 kicked-off with a poor encounter that offered very little spectacle, between the current Mexican league champion Toluca and Monarcas Morelia.
Toluca had a slight control and dominance of the first half, but Morelia took the lead in the 39th minute when defender Fernando Salazar took advantage of a rebound and shot in the 1-0 lead at the end of the first half.
The recently crowned champ made several changes at half-time and in the 48th minute new acquisitions Sergio Santana and José Antonio Olvera, combined for a magnificent play as Santana scored the definitive 1-1 score.
The remainder of the match was typical of a preseason encounter between two teams out of rhythm and a lack of clarity in the offensive end.
Morelia demonstrated more willingness to look for the win, but it wasn’t enough to defeat a second-string Diablos side, who will confront the InterLiga without their star players who stayed in México completing their preseason training.
Goals
MON: Fernando Salazar (39’)
TOL: Sergio Santana (48’)
Tecos 0 - 4 Pachuca
Fresh off their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, Pachuca presented an explosive football display, effectiveness in front of the goal, and great performances from their reinforcements Edgar Benítez and Blas Pérez, to defeat Tecos.
In the start of the match, Tecos presented their typical dynamic attack but to little effect.
It wasn’t long for the Tuzos to take advantage of the spaces left by Tecos and in the 15th minute, Paraguayan forward Edgar Benítez scored his first goal in a Pachuca jersey with a powerful shot that opened up the score.
From this moment on, Pachuca took over the actions of the match and persistently looked to increase their lead.
Their efforts would be rewarded at the start of the second half, when defender Marco Iván Pérez headed in the 2-0 lead pass Tecos goalkeeper Jesús Corona.
Ten minutes later, Pachuca youth product Edy Brambila increased the lead to 3-0 when he connected a diagonal pass from new acquisition Blas Pérez in the 57th minute.
Despite the score, the match went back-and-forth with a Tecos side that did not relent in search of the goal that would get them back in the game and Pachuca who in every attack grew closer to extending their lead.
Moments after the post denied Tecos their first goal, Pachuca substitute Ulises Mendívil took off on a counterattack and delivered a perfect pass to youngster Víctor Mañón, who simply touched it to the side of Corona for the final 4-0 thrashing in the 89th minute.
With this victory, Tuzos of Pachuca take the Group A lead with three points, followed by Monarcas and Toluca with one point apiece, while Tecos is at the bottom with no points, a negative goal differential, and very close to elimination.
Goals
PAC: Edgar Benítez (15’), Marco Iván Pérez (47’), Eddy Brambila (58’), Victor Mañon (89’)
--César García, Goal.com
Inside Goal.Com
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