San Diego FC made their debut in the continental competition by defeating Pumas with a 4-1 score.
San Diego FC made a statement in their CONCACAF Champions Cup debut by demolishing a pathetic Pumas by a 4-1 score. San Diego FC went on the offensive from the start and overcame and early goal to crush a Pumas side that was extremely defensive and had no idea of what to do once they got tied. Pumas will now need to win by three goals in Mexico and not allow a goal or face a disastrous elimination in their first round of play in another embarrassment against an MLS side.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with their normal starting 11, the exception being Antonio Leone getting his first start with the team. A cross into the area was kicked wide by Anders Deyer. After making a good run in the area, Adalberto Carrasquilla got off a great cross that Robert Morales would volley with an amazing bicycle kick that went past San Diego FC’s Palbo Sisniega to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. It was a wonderful goal for Morales in the first opportunity for Pumas in the match. A left footed shot by Anibal Godoy was almost deflected into the net off Pumas’ defense. A left footed shot from outside the area from Dreyer would go wide. A cross into the area was lowered into the path of Amahl Pellegrino, who got off a right footed shot from close range that went wide. The halftime whistle blew and Pumas took a surprising lead to halftime even when they had been incredibly defensive after scoring their goal.
The 2nd half started with Pumas subbing out the injured Adalberto Carrasquilla for Jose Caicedo. A cross into the area was volleyed wide by Luca Bombino. A left footed shot from outside the area by Godoy would go wide. After getting the ball in the area, Pellegrino got off a right footed shot that went wide. Without Carrasquilla, Pumas went even more defensive in the 2nd half as the home side completely dominated the possession. San Diego FC subbed out Marcus Ingvartsen and Pedro Soma for Alex Mighten and David Vazquez. Pumas subbed out Robert Morales and Jordan Carrillo for Guillermo Maritnez and Alan Medina. Off a corner kick, a cross into the area was headed by a wide open Manu Duah past Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas to score and tie the match at 1-1. Off another corner kick, the ball fell to Godoy, whose right footed shot was deflected wide by Alvaro Angulo. From outside the area, Bombino got off a left footed shot that went wide. Also from outside the area, Dreyer got off a right footed shot that was saved by Navas. A cross into the area was headed from close range by David Vazquez past Navas to score and give Sand Diego the 2-1 lead. After another cross into the area got headed by Vazquez and although Navas made a great save, the ball fell to Alex Mighten, who scored into the empty net to give San Diego FC the 3-1 lead. Pumas subbed out Pedro Vite for Uriel Antuna. San Diego FC subbed out Wilson Eisner and Amahl Pellegrino for Ian Pilcher and Kieran Sargeant. A cross into the area was badly fielded by Leone and left there for Luca Bombino to score into the empty net and give San Diego FC the 4-1 lead. San Diego FC subbed out Anders Dreyer for Anisse Saidi. After getting the ball in the area, Angulo got off a left footed shot from Angulo that went right to Sisniega. A cross into the area was just out of reach of Nathan. It was the last chance as the match ended and San Diego FC crushed a pathetic Pumas.
Pumas once again made a new embarrassing disastrous performance in their CONCACAF Champions Cup history against an MLS side. The side that ended Liga MX’s run of CONCACAF titles by losing the final against MLS side Seattle Sounders, now gave an embarrassing 4-1 loss in San Diego FC’s debut in a CONCACAF tournament. Like against Tigres in the Liga MX, Pumas went on the defensive from the start and had the strategy to hold on to a 1 goal lead. This time though they gave up the tie and had no answer against a San Diego FC side that was overly superior. It was incredible that the MLS side, who is in post season, looked a lot faster and in shape than a Pumas side that was out of energy by the 60th minute, even when they are a month into their tournament. Pumas will now need to win by three goals in Mexico City next week, and not allow a goal or lose out in the first round of play, something that might spell doom for Efrain Juarez and his underwhelming tenure so far as Pumas’ head coach.
Category: General Sports
