By Tony Álvarez
We knew it was going to be close, but the late drama had everyone on the edge of their seats as Pumas comes back to beat Atlanta United 3-2 to climb positions in the Leagues Cup table.
In the first minutes of the game both teams tried to generate some offense with crosses towards their opponents´ box, but it was a ball on the ground that helped open the scoring for Club Universidad involving two of their new players for this season.
In the 21 minute, José Caicedo found former Vancouver Whitecaps FC star Pedro Vitte as he took the ball to enter the box and then received a foul, the referee whistled the penalty; it was Álvaro Angulo who executed the shot from the spot with a lot of class
and with his left foot he put Pumas on top.
After that, Atlanta United took control of the game and Saba Lobjanidze was in the middle of it. The Georgia international stole a pass and delivered a strong right footed shot that Keylor Navas saved in the 32 minute, but it was four minutes later that these
two were involved in the game-tying goal.
Bartosz Slisz delivered a cross from right to left and before the ball reached the end line Saba´s soft touch surprised Navas as the ball passed inches between him and the post for the equalizer. That was not all.
After Lobjanidze once again had a shot on goal that Keylor saved, in the 43 minute the MLS side took the lead. Miguel Almirón delivered a metrical pass to Saba, who served Emmanuel Latte Lath on the left side of the box and his strike beat Navas for ATL UTD to take the lead towards the half.
But the Universitarios were not going to back down and they started to create danger on their opponent´s side and in the 62 minute they were rewarded when Piero Quispe found Adalberto Carrasquilla just before he entered the box and he delivered an absolute screamer to put the ball in the top far corner of the net, something that Brad Guzan could not stop and we had a new game at 2-2.
After more than 20 minutes of trading chances, it was another penalty that went up to the scoreboard when Jorge Ruvalcaba dribbled with the ball on the left side of the pitch and entered the box while he was being held by Hernández and then fell to the ground, the referee blew his whistle to indicate the foul at the 89 minute; this time is was “Coco” Carrasquilla who took the shot from the spot and even after Guzan saved it, the ball rebounded right to him and he only had to deliver a safe touch to put his team on top with one minute to play.
However, Atlanta United still had hope. After on a long pass to Jamal Thiaré, Keylor Navas ended up tackling him outside the box and the referee showed the goalkeeper a red card in 90+6 minute. Álvaro Angulo had to put on the gloves for his team for the free kick that was deflected and Pumas held on in the middle of a nerve-wracking finish. The Auriazules will now prepare to face an Inter Miami CF team that has 5 points just like them, as both teams will battle for a spot int the knockout stages in a final phase one matchup.
REACTIONS
- Pumas head coach Efraín Juárez:
- “We knew we had to suffer together and endure because we knew that with a couple of adjustments at halftime it was going to give us a lot in the second half, and I think that's how it was... (Adalberto) Carrasquilla's second goal involves nine players inside the area, that's what we intend and we're not going to change the idea."
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
- Pumas:
- Adalberto Carrasquilla
- Atlanta United:
- Saba Lobjanidze
GAME NOTES
- Adalberto Carrasquilla scored in his second straight Leagues Cup game.
- Saba Lobjanidze scored a goal and had an assist in the game.
- With yet another loss, Atlanta United's winless streak reaches 10 games.
- Keylor Navas was red carded late in the 2nd half and will miss their next match against Inter Miami CF.
CARDS/INJURY REPORT:
- Yellow Cards
- Pumas UNAM: Adalberto Carrasquilla
- Atlanta United: Ronald Hernández, Stian Gregersen,, Nyk Sessock, Bartosz Slisz
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Pumas will play their next game against Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium at 7:30pm ET on August 6, looking for a win to get to 8 points and qualify for the knockout stages.
- Atlanta United will play their next game against Atlas FC at Mercedes Benz Stadium at 7:30pm ET on August 6, as they want to end their participation on a high note still searching for their first ever Leagues Cup win.
