The night of Sunday, September 29, 2024, will be remembered sadly for Azulcremas fans, as they fell 1-0 to the UNAM Pumas on the field of the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium.
America They fought until the end, but they were unable to achieve the few goals they had, and on top of that they ended up with ten players, as Richard Sánchez was sent off. Cougarsfor his part, played an intelligent game. They dominated América in the first half and knew how to hold on in the second.
With tonight’s result, America sleeps in eleventh place in the general table. Even outside the play-in zone.
How the game developed
The meeting started quite busy. The UNAM Pumas put pressure on Luis Ángel Malagón’s goal from the first minutes, but Néstor Araujo, who has been on the rise in recent games, knew how to contain the attacks of the university students.
At sixteen of the first half, Néstor Araujo falls lying on the grass, asking for a foul that never existed on the part of ‘Chino’ Huerta. From the way he complained, anyone would have thought that Huerta called him excessive rudeness… but no.
At minute eighteen of the first half, Piero Quispe took advantage of a drop by the UNAM Pumas, and, connecting the ball with the inside of the boot, he sent it away, putting the visitors ahead 1-0 on the scoreboard. This was the first shot on goal so far in the game.
For the second half, America made an offensive modification. He benched Chicote Calderón and his place was taken by Brian Rodríguez.
In a matter of minutes, UNAM Pumas had a 2-0 lead on two occasions. First through Nathan Silva, who failed to head a precise cross, and the ball went over the final line to the lamentation of the Unamite player. Then in the boots of ‘Chino’ Huerta, who lost a one-on-one against Luis Malagón.
The referee added nine minutes to the game. An eternity for the UNAM Pumas, who have already dedicated themselves to defending the advantage with all eleven in their own area; nothing for América, who tries but cannot score the equalizer.
At the ninety-fourth minute of the game, in a foul committed in favor of the azulcremas that Richard Sánchez tried to quickly remove but the whistler wouldn’t let him. He complained angrily and this cost him his expulsion. This was the first red card against América so far in the tournament.
At minute eighteen of the first half, Piero Quispe took advantage of a drop by the UNAM Pumas, and, connecting the ball with the inside of the boot, he sent it away, putting the visitors ahead 1-0 on the scoreboard. This was the first shot on goal so far in the match, and with that it was enough for the university students to win the capital classic.
The intelligence of the Peruvian soccer player was the key to the victory of the UNAM team.
J. González – 7/10 – He managed to resolve América’s attacks in a good way, being crucial in at least two head-to-head matches that he resolved correctly.
Nathan – 6/10 – The yellow card he received in the second half affected his rating. He played a good game, but got carried away with what a capital classic represents.
Magellan – 7/10 – In the first half, he was a key player so that the América players saw their goal-scoring intentions frustrated. In the second half, he behaved at the height and helped his team add three points.
Duarte – 6/10 – Although he played the ninety minutes of the match, his performance went from strength to strength, so his final grade is below what was expected.
Bennevendo – 6/10 – As with Duarte, Bennevendo did not know how to maintain the level during the ninety minutes, and even influenced América to grow in the final stretch of the game.
Rico Reyes – 6/10 – The loss of play shown by the boy Reyes was reflected when he came off the bench. The classics are played at 100% from minute zero to the end. Rico didn’t know how to value it.
Caicedo – 7/10 – Although he missed a clear play in the first half, which could have meant 2-0 for Pumas, his performance on the field of play was good.
Ergas – 7/10 – In the first half, together with Piero Quispe, he generated at least a couple of dangerous plays. For the second half he shone less, but his grade is passing.
Quispe – 8/10 – In a classic, the player who scores the winning goal simply cannot fail. He defined the play he had in an exquisite way and was always a headache for the azulcremas defenders.
Martínez – 7/10 – He was not as relevant as Quispe, but he helped by marking and generating danger in the rival area. An important element in Pumas’ victory against América.
Orchard – 7/10 – The meeting started in a great way. And although in the second half, like the rest of his teammates, he went from strength to strength, his imbalance and depth helped him pass.
Substitutes
Ulises Rivas – 6/10 He came on as a replacement for Rico Reyes at minute sixty-six of the game. He was hit by America’s attacks, but, as far as possible, he resolved well.
Ali Ávila – 6/10 He came on for Piero Quispe at minute eighty-two. At that point in the match, the attackers would hardly have great scoring opportunities, since the intention was to take care of the advantage. Still, the boy behaved up to the mark.
Santiago Trigos – 7/10 He also entered at eighty-two, replacing Guillermo Martínez. Of the relays, he was the one who looked the best, neutralizing the Azulcremas attack.
Pablo Monroy – N/A He came in as a substitute at ninety-six, for Chino Huerta. There was not enough time to rate it correctly.
technical director
Gustavo Lema – 8/10 – He knew how to take advantage of the low level that America is experiencing; His changes helped put a stop to the American attacks, thus achieving three golden points, in someone else’s yard.
Malagon – 8/10 – There was no way he could do anything more on Pumas’ goal, and he saved the Azulcremas at least a couple more chances. Among all the bad things, Malagón was the best.
Calderon – 6/10 – He never managed to adapt to the demands of the party. He came out as a substitute and his team looked better. Calderón had a difficult night, in a game that América had to win and ended up losing.
Araujo – 7/10 – Néstor Araujo has gone from strength to strength in this tournament. And although against Pumas he started well, there were at least a couple of plays in which he could have done more and it seems that he had to do it. Even so, within the defensive defense, it was the best.
Ramon Juarez – 7/10 – Same case of Néstor Araujo. Could you have done it better? Yes. But among everything that América did not do well tonight, Araujo approves. In a closed way, but it happens.
Borja – 7/10 – He had at least a couple of plays that could have meant 1-1. However, his offensive contribution is worth highlighting.
Alvaro Fidalgo – 7/10 – The Spanish midfielder went from strength to strength in this match. He could have done better, without a doubt, but within the little that America offered, the surname Fidalgo was present.
Cervantes – 6/10 – Young Cervantes did not look bad. But in duels like tonight, it’s not enough to not look bad to pass.
Espinoza Acosta – 7/10 – Tonight’s duel never lent itself to Espinoza’s football characteristics. Despite this, he looked relatively good while playing.
Diego Valdes – 7/10 – America’s attack suffered the most tonight. Pumas knew how to neutralize them and the azulcremas struggled to reinvent themselves. Within the cloudy ideas, however, Diego tried something slightly above average.
Rodrigo Aguirre- 8/10 – The Uruguayan attacker was the one who generated the most dangerous actions for América. It seems like they took him off the field undeservedly, since his numbers were better than the rest.
Victor Dávila – 7/10 – It started very well but little by little it faded away. He passes with seven, however, because shortly after, he generated some danger in González’s goal.
Substitutes
Brian Rodríguez (came on as a substitute for the second half) – 7/10
Kévin Álvarez – 6/10 – The Mexican soccer player entered a complicated match. He fought to shine on the wings, but he didn’t succeed. It is taken into consideration that he had little time, but even so he did not have enough time to pass.
Alejandro Zendejas – 7/10 A shot by Zendejas on the outskirts of the area gives him a passing grade, as América was close to tying thanks to it. However, taking into consideration Alejandro’s level, seven is a low rating.
Richard Sanchez – 5/10 His expulsion just when América needed time to tie the game, positions him as the worst qualified in América, even though, like Alejandro Zendejas, he had a dangerous chance, taking a long-distance shot.
Henry Martin – 7/10 He came in determined to score the equalizer, and yet, he had very little. Delivery counts, of course, that’s why he passes with a seven. But Henry is also up for more.
technical director
André Jardine – 5/10 – In what has been a constant for América, the Brazilian strategist seems to have run out of ideas in difficult moments.
Player of the match – Piero Quispe, for the goal and his offensive contribution throughout the time he was on the field of play.
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