Mexico

Mancilla Brace Leads Toluca Past Pachuca

Hector Mancilla scored two goals as Toluca won 3-0 and moved into a tie with Morelia for the top spot in the overall league table.

Nov 8, 2009 8:03:23 PM

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Hector Mancilla- Toluca (Mexsport)

Teams

Toluca won a matchup that a season ago was a highly-anticipated game, defeating Pachuca 3-0 at Estadio Nemesio Diez on Sunday.

The loss officially eliminated Pachuca from playoff contention, but the club had hardly looked dangerous for most of the Apertura 2009 season.

Toluca, meanwhile, moved into a tie with Morelia for the top spot in the table. Morelia, however, could claim the top spot with a win in the final week of the season regardless of how Toluca finish as Morelia have a plus-16 goal differential to Toluca's plus-11.

Against Pachuca, Toluca followed the same formula for success that has worked for quite some time. Hector Raul Mancilla scored two goals in the win.

His first goal was a superb show of skill. Israel Lopez carried the ball towards the penalty area and knocked a ball towards the center of the box. Mancilla beat the offside trap as the ball deflected off him and towards the goal. Pachuca 'keeper Rodolfo Cota scrambled to try and reach Mancilla but the Chilean was quick to the ball. He chipped the ball over Cota, ran onto the ball and headed it into an empty net.

Mancilla started the play that led to his second goal. He fed Lopez from about 35 yards out and raced into the box. Lopez slipped a ball to Antonio Naelson "Zinha" who sent the final pass to Mancilla. With Cota well off his line, Mancilla had no problem scoring the goal, his 12th of the campaign.

Martin Romagnoli and Raul Nava combined for the third goal of the match. With time winding down, Romagnoli held the ball on the left side of the field. Romagnoli crossed to Nava, who stood on the top of the box. Nava headed the ball over a Pachuca defender, skirted around him and slammed a ball past Cota and into the back of the net.

Goal.com

For more coverage of the Mexican Apertura 2009 season, visit Goal.com.

Thank you for your comment!

Please enter your name

Please enter your location

Please share your comment!