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Cruz Azul Sink Pumas' Confidence With Convincing Rout
Cruz Azul's Jaime Lozano had a hand in his team's rout of Pumas on Sunday.
Aug 2, 2009 8:52:48 PM
It was difficult to tell that on Sunday.
Cruz Azul demolished the defending champions in their own house, as Cruz Azul routed Pumas 3-0 in Estadio Olimpico.
For Jaime Lozano, a win over Pumas is something to be proud of - that the two are group rivals only adds to it.
"It's good to gain three points against a group rival and against the Mexican champions," Lozano said. "They're a difficult rival who defends very well. They always play well at home and a result against them is always commendable."
Lozano had a key role in the victory. With his strong set-piece ability, Lozano helped create a goal but also kept Pumas' defense on its toes throughout the match with his precise crosses. Attacking was a strong part of Cruz Azul's game plan, and Lozano said his team only followed the hosts' example.
"Cruz Azul take Pumas' lead at home, which is to always attack and never defend anything," Lozano said. "We managed our game plan well (Sunday) and took advantage of the space they gave us."
The first goal was product of Pumas, though. Dario Veron hit a ball over 'keeper Sergio Bernal's head that bounced across the goal line and into the back of the net. For Pumas manager Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti, making mistakes is never a good thing.
"Football is about errors and right decisions. When you score a goal on yourself you always complicate things," he said. "The majority of games are very even and the season will be like this, so these mistakes are very costly."
The own goal fell towards the end of the first half. Early in the second half, Lozano's free kick found Cristian Riveros, who knocked the ball into the back of the net to give Cruz Azul a 2-0 lead. Ferretti said the goals took a lot of steam out of his players.
"I felt that our team was playing well when the goals fell," he said. "That affected our confidence and demoralized us."
Pumas have now lost both of their games this season, by a combined 4-0. Entering a tough match at Toluca, the club could face a terrible start to the season unless the team pulls out a win.
But Francisco Palencia said there was no reason to fear that Pumas would suddenly collapse.
"We've gotten past a lot of these types of slumps, under a lot more difficult circumstances and I don't see why we can't get past them now. We're the same group of players, have the same manager. Of course we can get past this."
Goal.com
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