The Eagles of America of the Argentine coach Ferdinand Ortiz They thrashed Puebla 1-6 this Wednesday at their stadium and set foot in the semi-final of the 2022 Apertura of Mexican soccer.
America prevailed with a pair of goals by Henry Martinone of the Chilean Diego Valdés, another of Alejandro Zendejas and the other two from the Uruguayans Brian Rodriguez and Federico Vinas. Puebla marked the honor through Jordi Cortizo.
America came out in search of victory and only in the third minute was close to taking advantage through Alejandro Zendejas, whose shot was stopped by Paraguayan goalkeeper Antony Silva.
With possession and dominance in midfield, the Eagles were better, but Puebla took the lead in the 14th minute with a goal by Jordi Cortizo from a pass from Argentine Federico Mancuello.
America took over the meeting; in the 25th the Spanish Alvaro Fidalgo crashed a ball into the post, a warning of what came later, two goals in three minutes. In minute 31, Paraguayan Richard Sánchez put a ball to Valdés, a header, who in minute 33 gave a ball to Martín, who converted from the right.
In both actions Puebla’s defense gave advantages with an innocent mark, which was repeated in the 57th minute. Martín accepted a long pass, shook the defense and from the right extended the lead to 1-3.
Puebla’s bad night was confirmed in minute 65, when goalkeeper Silva made a mistake by leaving a free ball in the area, which Zendejas put into the net, making it 1-4.
Defeated, Puebla was put at risk of receiving more punishment. It happened in minute 78, with a goal by Rodríguez, at the goalkeeper’s exit, and it was repeated in minute 92, with a goal by Viñas from a pass from his compatriot Jonathan Rodríguez.
The return duel will be on Saturday, with América with everything in its favor at its stadium, the Azteca.
The quarterfinals will continue this Wednesday with the visit of the Monterrey of the Uruguayan Rodrigo Aguirre and the Argentine Germán Berterame to the Cruz Azul of the Ecuadorian Michael Estrada and the Uruguayan Gonzalo Carneiro.
This Thursday the first leg matches of the eight best phase will conclude, when Chilean Jean Meneses’ Toluca will host Colombian Harold Preciado’s Santos Laguna and Argentine Nicolás Ibáñez’s Pachuca will visit Frenchman André Pierre Gignac’s Tigres.
The winners of the quarterfinals, which will conclude over the weekend, will advance to the semifinal. In case of a tie, América, Monterrey, Santos Laguna and Pachuca will have an advantage for having finished in the first four places of the regular phase.
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