BY ADAM SERRANO
Goals by a pair of Uruguayans Andres Olivera and Alvaro Gonzalez proved the difference as Puebla FC defeated Chivas USA, 2-1 on Thursday night. The defeat ended the Rojiblancos recent four game unbeaten streak.
The Camateros struck early in the 6th minute when Olivera scuffed weak shot into the Chivas USA net that may been deflected by a defender in an offside position. The visitors took a two goal lead when Alvaro Gonzalez fired a one time shot past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. The Rojiblancos were able to pull one back in the 85th minute when a Michael Umana fired in a header off a corner kick from new addition Rodolfo Espinoza, but never really threatened Puebla throughout the match.
The match was the first game for Chivas USA's three new acquisitions Paulo Nagamura, Giancarlo Maldonado and Rodolfo Espinoza. All three were in the starting line up and struggled to find rhythm with the new team. After the match Maldonado was candid that it wasn't easy in the first game with his new teammates.
"The first fifteen minutes it was very hard to understand each other," said Maldonado. "Then the team understood that when we had the ball, we began to understand one another and now we think about the team and turn the page."
NGWENYA BRACE GIVES DYNAMO WIN OVER PACHUCA
A brace and a little late dramatics by forward Joseph Nwengya proved the difference as the Houston Dynamo were able to defeat Mexican powerhouse Pachuca.
Nwengya's goal in the 85th minute off a free kick from Cory Ashe gave the Dynamo the victory in a heated Superliga match. The forward gave the Dynamo an early lead in the 19th minute, when a Ngwenya one-timer defeated Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero. The Tuzos drew level with a goal by Damian Manoso in the 51st minute, but were done in by Ngwenya's late dramatics.
The Dynamo are now tied with Puebla for the lead in Group B ahead of Sunday's matches. Houston will now take on Chivas USA in the club's third meeting this season at Robertson Stadium while Pachuca will take on Puebla in a battle of Mexican clubs.
Torres started and he was effective at getting the ball to teammates in space. In fact, he assisted on the Pachuca goal with a one-touch through ball.
Gomez came on as a second half substitute and was dangerous on runs. He had a couple of dangerous shots just wide of the post.
+1
As a Houston fan, Pachuca has become my favorite Mexican team due to the great respectful and competitive rivalry. I love watching them play Houston, and I wish them the best (except against the Dynamo).
left mid chivas needs and maybe centre mid….johnnyB needs to play LB, mendoza or nunez and veron would be nice additions…..
Any word on why Justin Braun was subbed last night at 45′? He was playing great with Maldonado and he was suddenly subbed at half
Did Torres and Herc play? If so, how did they do?
If you’d quit puttin’ sticks up your butt you wouldn’t have that problem. Just sayin’
Oh, and I forgot the Ching goal that was called offsides, when he was clearly on. Should have been 4-1 Dynamo
I thought the same thing when I read the title. Not comparing it to the other, but because Houston didn’t squeak by… The ywon and deserved to win. There was a hand ball pen that should have been called, as well as, goal kicks in favor of Pachuca when corners should have been called in favor of the Dynamo.
That was some of the worst reffing I have seen in awhile against an MLS team. It was a Costa Rican ref who was obviously more inclined to help out the Mexican club. Maybe it was simply that he could communicate better with the team, but it was pretty biased.
“squeaks” doesnt work considering Houston had a perfectly good goal called back for offsides. Should have been 3-1.
Money. MLS teams need it more.
We’ve got another guy peeing off a balcony on to someone’s celebration!
I’ll never understand the need to denigrate competitions.
in a tournament that doesnt matter and noone cares about.
why does the MLS continue???
remove stick from rectum, then comment
85th minute winner
How is Puebla 2-1 win over Chivas USA labeled as them “defeating” Chivas USA but,
Houston “squeaks” by Pachuca by the same result.
?
Puebla!!!!! I wish they were playing DC United, I would proudly sport the jersey of La Franja for that matchup
Love the Houston-Pachuca rivalry. I’ll always root for MLS teams in international competition (with the exception of DC/Philly) but if a MLS side doesn’t win the Superliga this year, I hope Pachuca takes it again.
I respect Pachuca after all these years of playing Superliga and Champions League games aginst MLS teams (seems like almost every time, it’s Houston). They take it seriously and seem to respect their MLS opponents. Plus now they have Gomez with Torres. That said, good to see Houston get the win.