Paraguay’s Robert Morales scored a brace in Pumas UNAM’s 4-2 win over Juárez FC on Tuesday in the sixteenth round of the Mexican Clausura Tournament.
With the victory, the felines are second in the table with 33 points and have already qualified for the final phase. Juárez is down to 16 points and is in thirteenth place. In addition to Morales, Guillermo Martínez scored two goals for Pumas and Francisco Nevárez and Ían Torres scored for Juárez.
From nightmare to epic comeback
Pumas dominated at the start of the match, but lacked depth, in fact, they started the game down 0-2 to Juarez.
Juárez did the damage in the 34th minute on a counter-attack in which Nevárez drove from midfield, broke into the box and shot past Pablo Lara.
He replaced Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas, who is suspended.
The visitor scored the 0-2 on a play on the left.
The Colombian gave the ball to Ían Torres, who fired a powerful shot from outside the area that Lara could not keep out.
In the 55th minute, Juárez was reduced to 10 players when Eder López was sent off.
Pumas came within 1-2 thanks to a penalty kick taken by Guillermo Martínez in the 65th minute.
Martínez himself made it 2-2 with a header in the 69th minute.
In the 85th minute, the home team came back thanks to a cross that was headed in by Robert Morales, who sealed the 4-2 in stoppage time with a half-volley.
Cruz Azul does not get up
View this post on Instagram
In another match, Cruz Azul drew 1-1 away to Querétaro, making it six consecutive matches without a win.
La Máquina, which has already qualified, has 30 points and is in fourth place. Querétaro has 17 points and is in twelfth place.
Cruz Azul took the lead through Jeremy Márquez; Querétaro equalized thanks to an own goal by the same player.
Cruz Azul took control from the start and capitalized in the ninth minute thanks to a Jeremy Márquez shot to make the score 0-1.
Querétaro found the 1-1 in stoppage time before halftime on a Daniel Parra cross.
But the ball hit Jeremy Márquez and left Colombian Kevin Mier with no chance to save.
In the second half, La Máquina went for the winning goal, but were not convincing (Filed as: Pumas vs Juárez).
The day closes with key duels
View this post on Instagram
The team moved into second place in the standings
QuéOnnda.com
Later, Monterrey, led by Spaniard Sergio Canales, beat Puebla, but both teams were already eliminated.
Sixth-placed América beat eighth-placed León in a duel between teams seeking to remain in the top eight.
The sixteenth round will conclude this Wednesday with five matches.
Leaders Guadalajara are favored to emerge victorious at Necaxa’s 11th-place stadium.
Meanwhile, Pachuca, led by Venezuelan Salomón Rondón, will have a complicated visit to Tijuana.
Atlas will face Tigres UANL, champion Toluca will play Mazatlan and San Luis will face Santos Laguna.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
