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Estudiantes Overcome Another Deficit, Down Puebla In InterLiga Match
Puebla took a 2-0 lead early in the second half but could not make it stand as Estudiantes beat Puebla 3-2 at Home Depot Center.
Jan 13, 2010 10:49:34 PM
This time, though, Estudiantes parlayed the comeback into a possible trip to South America.
Estudiantes beat Puebla 3-2 despite falling behind by a pair of goals, and advanced to a Copa Libertadores playoff series. Estudiantes' match-winner came in the 89th minute as Rubens Sambueza scored the decisive goal.
First Half
Puebla took the initiative and got on the scoreboard first. Just five minutes into the match, Gilberto Mora swung a corner kick to the front of the goal and Alejandro Acosta buried a header into the the back of the net.
Puebla got into a bit of a rhythm after that as the club held possession of the ball and tried to add a second goal quickly, but their touch in the final third let them down.
Estudiantes nearly had Carlos Ruiz and Nicolas Olivera combined on a nifty play in the 26th minute but Olivera's final effort was not strong enough. Ruiz created space for himself inside the penalty area and backheeled a ball to Olivera, but the Brazilian couldn't get enough on his attempt and Mario Rodriguez scooped up the shot without too much trouble.
Ruiz drew a penalty kick later in the half. Estudiantes' Daniel Alcantar grabbed ahold of Ruiz from behind and Ruiz tumbled to the turf, forcing referee Baldomero
Toledo to point to the spot. However, Puebla captain Luis Miguel Noriega could not convert the bit of fortune into a goal. Noriega's shot went straight to Rodriguez's extended arms, and the 'keeper parried the ball out of harm's way.
Alvaro Gonzalez had an opportunity to give Puebla a two-goal lead but failed to put away an open shot. Gonzalez found himself unmarked and sent a shot on goal from about 15 yards out but the ball hit the right post and was eventually cleared away by Estudiantes' defense.
Gonzalez had another opportunity in first-half stoppage time. On a quick Puebla counterattack, Gonzalez wound up with the ball and tried to push the ball across the goal line but Rodriguez held firm and cleared the ball out of danger.
Second Half
It didn't take very long for Puebla to double their lead in the second half. Alvaro Ortiz fired a long ball from near the middle of the field to the edge of the penalty area. Ruiz came down with the ball, held it and pushed it into an empty space just inside the box. Olivera ran onto the ball and knocked the ball past Rodriguez into the back of the net.
Gonzalez missed a shot from 12 yards out as he had Rodriguez beaten but couldn't pick out the corner.
The miss came back to bite Puebla quickly. Rodrigo "Pony" Ruiz took a feed from Bareiro and pushed his shot over Rodriguez and into the back of the net. Estudiantes showed on this very field just four days prior their ability to overcome a two-goal deficit and forced Puebla to go back on the attack in order to widen their lead.
Estudiantes fell behind 3-1 to America before battling back and tying the match at 3-3. Puebla, though, appeared shaken after the goal as Estudiantes were the ones battling for the next goal.
In the 66th minute, Puebla manager Jose Luis Sanchez Sola tried to counter Estudiantes' dominance in possession by making an attack-minded substitution. Herculez Gomez replaced Gonzalez as the forward line received some fresh legs. Gomez fired a shot on goal in the 70th minute and forced Rodriguez to make a diving save. Gomez teamed with former LA Galaxy teammate Ruiz up front as the club attempted to put the game away.
Estudiantes, though, continued to battle and ultimately were rewarded when Ruiz struck once more. In the 81st minute, Ruiz buried a cross from Sambueza into the back of the net as Estudiantes overcame their second consecutive two-goal deficit.
Puebla nearly got the go-ahead goal two minutes later. Carlos Ruiz slipped clear down the left side of the box and fired a cross to the front of the goal. Noriega stood in front of the box and rifled the ball on goal but the shot went straight to Rodriguez's chest and caromed out of danger.
Sambuez eventually gave Estudiantes the stunning lead. With one minute remaining in the match, Elgabry Rangel hit a perfectly-placed through ball to Sambueza. As Jorge Villalpando chaged off to meet him, Sambueza buried his attempt past Villalpando to give Estudiantes the deserved victory.
Luis Bueno, Goal.com
For more coverage of the Mexican Primera Division, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.
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