But Henry won the race and saved what should have been a second for Cruz Azul. The breakthrough looked certain in the 77 th when Nigel Henry had to go full stretch in front of and attacking player after a terrible bit of defending from John Krause left the ball drifting toward an open goal. Gerardo Torrado had a chance to give the home side a 2-0 lead in the 72 nd when a set play fell kindly for him at the back post, but the Cruz Azul captain could only push his flicked shot wide of the post. The midfielder collected the ball and found space for a shot, but Cruz Azul ‘keeper Alfonso Blanco got down well to smother the ball. The Islanders got their first chance on goal in the 63 rd when Kendell Jagdeosingh found James Marcelin running down the left channel. The lefty struck his shot well and only a stretching punch from Gaudette kept the ball out of the net. The ball was helped across the frame of goal by Landin, but Zeballos couldn’t get the final touch that was needed.Īnother silly foul from Arrieta set Lozano up for a great chance from a set piece. Cruz Azul came out pressing for a second goal and nearly got it just seven minutes in when second half substitute Edgar Andrade sent a ball into the box on nearly his first touch of the game. The second half began much as the first ended. The match went to the break with Cruz Azul holding a one goal lead, but down a man and still in need of another goal to have any shot at reaching the finals. The striker did well to earn an inch of space after settling the ball and blasted a shot into the top corner of Gaudette’s net. The tackle looked fairly innocent and Gaudette was only glanced by the midfielder’s arm as he jumped away, but the referee’s decision was a straight red leaving the home side to play with ten men for the remaining hour of the match.ĭown a man but still well in control of the match the Cementeros finally found a breakthrough in the 44 th when a nice heel-flick from Luis Landin found Zeballos at the top of the box. More drama ensued as Guadette took his time picking up the lose ball and was challenged by Cristian Riveros who slid in towards the ball. The defender’s header looked goal bound, but came back off the post. The ball in from Jaime Lozano found Joaquin Beltran unmarked in the box. The home side came very close to opening the scoring in the 30 th when a poor tackle from defender Cristian Arrieta set up a dangerous set piece. As a result the Islanders faced constant pressure in first 20 minutes, but the five man back line held up well and kept Gaudette from any real trouble. The lack of possession and attacking options for the visitors allowed Cruz Azul far too much time on the ball. We have to make a very smart series, respect every moment of the game and capture what we know,” said the coach who made the club champion after more than 23 years.Colin Clarke’s decision to start with a 5-4-1 formation seemed to be working against the Islanders. I don't believe in debts or revenges, I believe in the demands of the squad and getting into the final for what this club represents. It's going to be a closed series, I don't think it will be a lot of goals, and if so, I hope they are from us. “If I were an amateur, I would like it to be spectacular, but as a coach we will try to surprise, and that we can neutralize them in their closed situations. On the other hand, Juan Reynoso, coach at La Noria, assured that the series is not a rematch (in relation to the elimination of his team against Pumas in the 2020 Apertura where after a score of four by zero, he was reached and surpassed by a better position in the table). Everyone is available and we will go with the best we have this 180-minute match.” For us sportsmanship it is something that this group earned and sought it. Regarding the relevance of the game, he said that “we are going with all the meat to the grill, it is a unique opportunity, it is a beautiful competition to play it and not let it go.
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