MEXICO CITY (AP) — Alonso Escoboza came off the bench to score a stunning goal on Saturday and Cruz Azul beat Pumas 1-0, putting him in the reclassification zone for the Clausura tournament league in Mexico.
Escoboza, who entered the game in the 77th to replace Argentinian Carlos Rotondi, converted the winner in the 84th.
La Máquina, who had just lost last week to bottom club Mazatlán, have won their fourth victory in their last five games and, after being 14th, they are now in ninth position with five games left for the 12th date. .
Two of these four victories have been won by the team since the arrival of Brazilian Ricardo Ferretti on the bench.
In Mexico, only the top four teams have direct access to the league. The next eight meet in a reclassification to complete the quarter-finals.
The result worsens the results crisis at Pumas, which have lost five of their last six games and with 11 units languishes in 13th position, outside the playoffs.
University students are one of the most popular teams in Mexico, but they haven’t been champions since Clausura 2011.
During the last tournament, the auriazul team was absent from the league and the management sacked the Argentinian Andrés Lillini and placed Rafael Puente in office, who failed to raise the bar.
After an unemotional first half, the second was more vibrant and the Machine took the lead in the 64th minute thanks to a shot from Rotondi which hit the post.
The Pumas had a clean finish with a shot from Ulises Rivas which went very close.
Cruz Azul scored the difference when Uruguayan Ignacio Rivero reached the bottom line from the right and sent a cross into the box where Escoboza hit a volley that left Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastián Sosa without a chance.
EAGLES RETURN FLIGHT
With scores from Uruguayan Jonathan Rodríguez and Argentinian Leonardo Suárez, América returned to winning ways by beating Tigres 2-0.
‘Cabecita’ Rodríguez first shook the net at 32 minutes and Suárez sealed victory in a counterattack game at 78 minutes.
America, who lost their unbeaten record to Pachuca last week, now have 20 points, which places them provisionally in fourth place.
The Tigers lost for the second time in their last three games and remain with 21 points, in second place.
Las Águilas took the lead when Rodríguez entered the box and converted with a low shot that entered the left post of Argentine goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán.
Tigres added men in attack in search of an equalizer and América took the opportunity to secure the victory in a counter, after a corner in which the Chilean Diego Valdés gave a fine assist to Suárez, who carried the score at 2-0.
LA FIERA EXTENDS ITS UNDEFEATED MARCH
With a goal from Chilean Víctor Dávila in the first half, León beat Atlas 1-0 and extended their unbeaten streak to six.
Dávila converted with a shot from outside the box after 18 minutes and that was all it took for La Fiera to win the game.
León, led by Argentinian Nicolás Larcamón, has won four of his last six matches and has not lost since the fifth date, when champion Pachuca beat him by the minimum.
Thanks to this good moment, the Fiera has 18 points and is in sixth position, pending the other results for the 12th round.
Atlas saw the flip side and extended their winless streak to eight.
The Foxes remain with nine points in 15th place among 18 teams and are in danger of missing the playoffs.