Mexico's Pumas advanced to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals after beating the United States New England Revolution on 4-3 penalties on Wednesday at the Olympic University Stadium in Mexico City, for the return of the quarterfinals.
With the need to overcome the 3-0 loss suffered in the first leg, the Pumas won with the same score with two goals from Argentina's Juan Dinenno, in the 33rd and 49th minutes, and one by the American Sebastian Saucedo, at 59th.
With the overall score tied 3-3, the pass to the semifinals was defined in penalty shoot-outs.
With their three-goal advantage, the US squad was close to sentencing the elimination of the felines from the 16th minute when Pole Adam Buksa poorly finished off a very comfortable pass given by Argentinian Gustavo Bou.
As the minutes passed, the Pumas were establishing conditions to attack with depth, but they were slow to reach the goal defended by goalkeeper Earl Edwards clearly and effectively.
It was until 33 when 1-0 finally came. Omar Islas sent a cross from the right side, Brazilian Rogerio de Oliveira controlled the ball and gave it up for Dinenno to sign the goal with a shot in the small area.
The Mexican squad came very close to scoring a second goal in the 44th minute when Brazil's Higor Meritao struck a shot to the left post.
After the break, De Oliveira sent the ball to the area from the right sector, Dinenno anticipated Omar Gonzalez's mark and stretched his leg to finish the ball with a crossover shot and sign the 2-0.
The 3-0 that the Pumas needed to match the overall score was signed by Saucedo when he shot off a ball that the defense left him in his attempt to clear it, at 59.
At 90+1, goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera saved the Pumas from defeat by covering a dangerous shot, and the pass to the semifinals had to be defined in penalties.
In the prison executions, Arturo Ortiz, Alan Mozo and Argentines Nicolás Freire and Juan Dinenno scored for the university felines. Efraín Velarde failed (saved).
Carles Gil, DeJuane Jones and Jozy Altidore scored for the North American team. Thomas McNamara (save) and Sebastian Lletget (deviated) failed.
“This group has something special: mystique; the more difficult the situation is, the more they get the character out, but now we have to sustain it over time,” said Andrés Lillini, Argentine coach of Los Pumas, at the end of the match.
In the semifinals, the Pumas will face Mexico's Cruz Azul who on Wednesday tied 1-1 with Montreal Canada at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal and surpassed the quarterfinal round with an overall score of 2-1.
The technical sheet of the match is as follows:
2022 CONCACAF Champions League - Quarterfinals - Second leg
Pumas - New England Revolution 3-0 (1-0) Global: 3-3 Penaltis: 4-3
Stadium: Olímpico Universitario (Mexico City)
Referee: David Morán (El Salvador)
Goals:
Cougars: Juan Dinenno (33, 49), Sebastian Saucedo (59)
Penalties (New England Revolution won first):
Cougars: Arturo Ortiz, Alan Mozo, Nicolas Freire, Juan Dinenno. Failed: Efraín Velarde (saved)
New England Revolution: Carles Gil, DeJuane Jones, Jozy Altidore Missed: Thomas McNamara (saved), Sebastian Lletget (off track)
Admonitions:
New England Revolution: Jozy Altidore (72)
Alignments:
Cougars: Alfredo Talavera, Alan Mozo, Nicolas Freire, Arturo Ortiz, Efrain Velarde, Leonel Lopez, Omar Islas (Diogo de Oliveira 62), Higor Meritao, Sebastian Saucedo (Jorge Ruvalcaba 69), Juan Dinenno, Rogerio de Oliveira. DT Andres Lillini.
New England Revolution: Earl Edwards, Brandon Bye, Jonathan Bell, Omar González, DeJuan Jones, Matt Polster, Arnor Traustasson (Thomas McNamara 46), Sebastian Lletget, Carles Gil, Adam Buksa, Gustavo Bou (Jozy Altidore 71). DT Bruce Arena.
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