Blue Cross It did not surprise in Puebla and as the forecasts dictated defeated The Strip in Cuauhtémoc to secure the leadership of the competition for another week.
Giorgos Giakoumakis and Rodolfo Rotondi The visitors scored and reached six goals on each team’s personal account, while Luis Quiñones momentarily tied the match, before going to half-time.
Even the cement workers the luxury of missing a penalty, that Jorge Sánchez wrongly charged.
With 31 points, The Machine They have already secured a place at least in the Play-in of the tournament, although their next goal is to surpass the 41 points they made in the tournament in which they won their ninth title.
They are still at the top
It seemed that The Machine would have an easy night on his visit to Puebla, but the Fringe He put up more resistance than the capital’s residents expected.
Yes, Cruz Azul had more opportunities and was more aggressive when attacking, but behind them they found a block that was difficult to overcome.
Alexis Gutiérrez was confident and shot from outside the area, but the ball took more height and went over the goal.
Puebla had few opportunities in the first half. Luis Quinones He received a long pass and controlled it inside the area, Willer Ditta stole it and left it to his goalkeeper, who had problems controlling it, but in the end he ended the danger.
Rodolfo Rotondi entered the area and tried to shoot at the goal, but the ball bounced and fell to Giorgos Giakoumakis, who was knocked down by “Wacho” Jiménez. The central referee, Mario Terrazas, let the play run until the ball left the field and as soon as that happened he was called by the VAR. After reviewing the play he scored the maximum penalty.
In the small area, Jorge Sanchez He took the ball and settled it. He took a few steps back, looked at the ball carefully and shot to the left, at the same place where the Puebla goalkeeper went and thus missed his shot.
The locals gave many facilities and gave up spaces. Cruz Azul was on top, even, with its defenses stuck in the rival area.
On the edge of the area, Ditta settled in and hit him with his three-fingered right foot, although it went to one side.
Giakoumakis tried one more time. He took the ball, turned around and shot, but he did so with difficulty due to the pressure from the Puebla defense.
In added time of the first half, The Strip tried one more time. Quiñones ordered the service for Emiliano Gómez, who fell inside the area after contact with Lira. The center back ran and signaled the maximum penalty, but the assistant immediately raised the flag to signal out of place.
In compensation, in a corner kick, Piovi styled her hair for Giakoumakis and with a headbutt he sent her to the bottom.
It seemed like they would go to rest, but that wasn’t the case. Cruz Azul tried to come out playing, Mier passed it short to Piovi and tried to change the game, but that’s where Quiñones got in the waywho jumped and kept the ball, He controlled and sent it to the bottom for 1-1.
The second half was with the same tone for The Machinewhich he proposed again to win the match.
Another penalty put the visitors ahead. Now, due to a handball from Sebastián Olmedo in the area. On this occasion it was Rodolfo Rotondi who positioned himself from the eleven steps and with his left foot, with a smashed shot, hit the post.
Cruz Azul’s last change was not to give minutes to “Toro” Fernández, but to Carlos Vargas, a player, who was also injured a few months ago, but after his return he has not had the desired activity.
The Machine will host the Bravos de Juárez in the middle of the week, while Pueblawhich was left with 11 points, will visit Toluca.
AVV
