Draw helps Pumas stay in the fight for Liguilla

When a victory was most needed, like those at the beginning of the tournament, Pumas failed to achieve it. Universidad drew 1-1 against a weak Morelia, which throughout the tournament lacked good results, but stood defensively organized in Ciudad Universitaria and took advantage of their opportunities. Despite fighting against the current, the felines equalized in the second half, thanks to a goal from Santiago Palacios, who made his debut in the auriazul uniform and at home. The draw allows them to continue in the fight for a playoff spot.

It seemed like a sunny day in Ciudad Universitaria. Pumas hosted the forgiving Morelia, a team that throughout the Apertura 2016 showed little football and several defensive problems. The first few minutes indicated that the outcome would favor the home team. Paco Palencia's team came out determined, attacking and trying to create danger.

But everything fell apart in the blink of an eye. In the 5th minute, Kevin Escamilla lost a seemingly easy ball in midfield, which the opponent recovered and projected to Raúl Ruidíaz; Darío Verón, who was the last man in defense, let the play go, thinking there would be an offside call against the Purépecha attack, but there wasn't. The Peruvian forward headed towards the auriazul goal and thrashed Alejandro Palacios to open the scoring in favor of the visitors.

Despite the goal against, Palencia sent his team forward, and they responded. Pumas, as always, tried to create danger through the wings. Pablo Barrera on the right and Jesús Gallardo on the left, but the transition of the ball did not flow enough to think that the score could be leveled. As the intensity of the attacks increased, so did the desperation of being wounded and at a disadvantage.

If there was a link that reflected Pumas' bad moment, it was Fidel Martínez.

The Ecuadorian has not found his way throughout the semester and made it clear against Morelia; he missed simple passes, he did not understand neither Gallardo nor Britos, his closest partners; Morelia, on the other hand, maintained tactical order in their defensive zone, aware that they had to reduce the opponent's momentum.

University kept creating chances, trying to equalize the score, because it was clear that there was only one team on the pitch. But they didn't succeed. Morelia knew how to defend, hold on, and then counterattack, like in the 30th minute, when a mistake by Pikolín Palacios almost caused the second goal of the afternoon. In the 33rd minute, Gallardo hit the ball against the left post... Nothing. The insistence of one and the cynical caution of the other wasn't enough. The first half ended with a loud boo for the felines and a 0-1 score.

Both coaches made changes for the second half. Palencia got rid of Fidel Martínez and gave playing time to Santiago Palacios; Roberto Hernández, the Morelia coach, brought in a familiar face like David Cabrera, opting for balance and leaving out Miguel Sansores. The clock was ticking and it was more of the same: a well-organized visitor in defense, who with their modification managed to cut off more play, while Universidad tried tirelessly, now also through the center of the box.

Palencia's second move was to bring in Eduardo Herrera, reinforcing the attack and playing a kind of 4-1-3-2 formation. A couple of plays later, in the 74th minute, the changes paid off with a goal. Santiago Palacios scored his first goal for Pumas, in a play where he found the ball inside the penalty area. Unexpected. The celebration of the homegrown player, who returned for this semester after several years in the Netherlands, was filled with joy as he ran around looking for a way to celebrate it. 1-1.

The draw allows Pumas to think about the Liguilla. Universidad has one more match to determine if they will compete for the title, and they are very close to it. They are currently in the seventh place in the general classification due to their goal difference. Pumas came from behind against Morelia and although the score was not what they expected, it helps them stay in the fight for a spot in the playoffs. Palencia and his team are very close to their objective. Puebla awaits them.