MEXICO CITY (AP) — In his presentation as the new coach of Pumas, Antonio Mohamed said that they would do everything possible to get into the playoffs of the Clausura tournament in Mexico. So far, it’s on the right track.
With three goals in the first half, the university team defeated Toluca 3-1 on Sunday to get inside the zone that grants a pass to reclassification.
Argentines Juan Dinenno and Eduardo Salvio scored goals in the first minute and at 44, while César Huerta scored at 38.
Pumas achieved their second consecutive victory, both with the Argentine Mohamed on the bench, and now they have 17 points to place themselves in 11th position with two dates remaining on the regular calendar.
The first four teams in the table advance directly to the league. The next eight meet in a requalification to complete the quarterfinals.
“I want to congratulate the footballers for the effort and for the desire to want to leave where we are, when the day is over we will probably depend on ourselves and that is what we are looking for,” said Mohamed. “You have to recover the energy to think about what’s to come.”
What is coming to the university students is a complicated closing of the tournament in which they will have to visit América and then Monterrey, the two teams that set the pace in the championship.
“There are two difficult away games left, but we will continue dreaming that we can achieve it,” added the Argentine strategist. “We know the degree of difficulty, but there is hope, that’s why we compete, to be at the top and it’s worth getting excited, let’s hope we live up to it.” Mohamed took over after the sacking of Rafael Puente, who left the penultimate club after four straight losses.
Paraguayan Carlos González scored a penalty in the 30th minute for the Red Devils, who saw a four-game streak without losing broken.
Toluca finished with 10 due to the expulsion of the Chilean Jean Meneses at 59 and with the defeat it remains at 28 units, third in the championship, barely surpassed by Monterrey (34) and América (30).
“I don’t like to lose, but they are one of the defeats that you have to take advantage of, there are six points left and we depend on us,” said Diablos Rojos coach Ignacio Ambriz. “You have to return to humility, it’s a good stick for us and we know we have to improve.”
Pumas took the lead almost immediately when Pablo Bennevendo sent a cross from the right into the box where Dinenno got loose and headed home that left Brazilian goalkeeper Tiago Volpi without a chance.
Later, Arturo Ortiz committed a handball inside the box for a penalty that González converted with a shot past the left post from goalkeeper Julio González.
Pumas regained the lead with a great play by Huerta, who eluded a couple of markers on the left and finished with a powerful shot to Volpi’s left post.
Huerta participated in the next score because he was knocked down inside the area for a penalty, which “Toto” Salvio converted with a powerful shot that entered through the center of the goal.
