Pachuca triumphed 5-2 over Monterrey in the chaotic first-leg match of the 2022 Liga MX Apertura semi-final sequence on Thursday.
Pachuca earned the preliminary lead with a aim from Nicolas Ibanez, earlier than Rayados equalized the rating solely seven minutes later. It turned a sport of catch up for the guests, with Luis Romo canceling out Romario Ibarra’s strike to safe the 2-2 draw heading into halftime.
The second 45 noticed Pachuca discover the again of the web seconds after the whistle, exerting their dominance. But as frustrations grew excessive on the pitch for Rayados, right-back Erick Aguirre dedicated a foul that left the staff all the way down to 10 males.
Despite the drawback, Monterrey continued to push ahead, till a foul by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari on Jesus Gallardo handed Rayados the chance to equalize the sport with a penalty. Rogelio Funes Mori stepped up, sending the ball into the arms of Ustari on the fitting. Two minutes later, a foul contained in the field on the opposite finish of the pitch noticed Pachuca earn a penalty and Ibanez sealed the 4-2 lead.
Ibanez topped it off with an additional time aim to safe his hat-trick and the 5-2 triumph.
Though Pachuca heads into the second leg with the benefit, goalkeeper Oscar Ustari lamented the match.
“I’m fine, beyond the victory I’m a little upset because I made a mistake that thank God I was able to correct, but there are mistakes that you can’t make in these instances against these great rivals because it costs you the series,” he said post match.
“Sometimes it’s our turn, it was a very rude mistake on my part that, if it had been a goal, the game would have changed completely. Luckily we have a great squad, when it comes to us luckily we show up and we’re happy. We are going to try to close the lap in a good way, we will go thinking that we are going 0-0 because we have a great finish in front of us.”
Pachuca’s attention now turns to Sunday as Monterrey hosts the decisive match, where they need just three goals to manage the draw and advance. In case of an overall draw, the team with a better regular-season record advances to the final.
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