Arabe Unido beat Pachuca 4-1 in Panama and pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the tournament thus far.
In one of the most surprising results of the early stages of the CONCACAF Champions League, Panamanian side Arabe Unido destroyed Mexican powers Pachuca 4-1 in Panama.Pachuca, who fielded several regulars in the match, were outplayed from the start by an energetic and hungry host club determined to get three points.
First Half
Arabe Unido started off with the better of play as Pachuca's defenders seemed surprised to see such fight and spirit from the hosts. Although the club had several opportunities, the hosts could not capitalize on them.
It was not until a defensive mistake helped Arabe Unido score the first goal. Pacuhca's Raul Martinez did a horrible job of trapping a long ball and instead pushed it onto Orlando Rodriguez's path. Rodriguez darted into the area, evaded Rodolfo Cota's mark and slipped a ball into an empty net to give Arabe Unido a 1-0 lead after 23 minutes of play.
Late in the half, Arabe Unido took a deserved two-goal edge. Jose Justavino took a short corner kick and fired it to the far post. Victor Mendieta rose up for the ball and powered a header past Pachuca's Rodolfo Cota and into the back of the net.
The goal justified a half in which the Panamanians had the better of play.
Second Half
Mendieta nearly made it 3-0 in the 57th minute but his 20-yard effort skimmed off the top of the crossbar and over the goal.
Rodriguez also nearly made it a three-goal edge in the 69th minute when he knifed through Pachuca's defense only to push a shot wide of goal.
Manuel Mosquera, who entered the game in the 67th minute, finally got the third goal. Off a scramble following a corner kick, Mosquera found the ball at his feet in front of the goal and knocked a the ball into the back of an empty net to give the hosts a 3-0 lead in the 73rd minute.
Five minutes later, Pachuca struck. Gabriel Caballero took a free kick from 25 yards out and sent it to the center of the area. Paul Aguilar re-directed the ball into the back of the net and gave los Tuzos a tiny bit of life.
But that life would end just 10 minutes later on possibly the most impressive goal of the night. On a corner kick, Mosquera headed the ball up high, from the left side of the goal to the opposite side. Defender Reynaldo Leyvin knocked a volley into the back of the net as Cota had no chance of stopping the ball.
The match would end 4-1 and for Pachuca a nightmare start to the CONCACAF Champions League is underway. For Arabe Unido, however, a three-goal win over one of the tournament favorites is certain to lead to greater things.
Goal.com
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