Mexico

Cruz Azul Claim Playoff Spot In Win Over Puebla

Cruz Azul's 4-0 demolition of Puebla was all the club needed to secure a spot in the Liguilla.

Nov 8, 2009 9:18:07 AM

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Emanuel Villa - Cruz Azul (Mexsport)

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A spot in the Liguilla was there for the taking, and Cruz Azul took it.

Cruz Azul scored three first-half goals and cruised to a 4-0 win over visiting Puebla to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Coupled with Santos' 4-2 loss to San Luis and Cruz Azul's victory, la Maquina have now wrapped up the Group 3 title. Cruz Azul also stand a good chance of finishing in the top four of the overall standings, which would be good for home-field advantage in the first leg of their playoff series.

Puebla also had an opportunity to move to within distance of a playoff spot but the club instead remains on 26 points. Group 2 rivals Monterrey have 29 points and America have 26 ahead of their game on Sunday, so Puebla could stand a chance to catch either side depending on the result.

Cruz Azul came out firing and pressured Puebla's goal from the beginning but la Maquina had to wait until the 36th minute to break Puebla down. Rogelio Chavez crossed the ball deep from the right flank towards the left side of the penalty area. Jaime Lozano got to the ball and headed it towards the middle of the box. Emanuel Villa stood unmarked just inside the six-yard box and rifled a shot into the back of the net.

Gabino Velasco helped Villa find the back of the net just two minutes later. After a botched clearance by a Puebla defender, Velasco ran onto the ball near the top of the box and ripped a shot on goal. Puebla's Jorge Villalpando made the save but the ball fell out of reach to his right. Villa was there and easily knocked the ball into an empty net.

The goal was Villa's league-leading 16th goal of the season.

At the end of the first half, Mario Ortiz put the game away. Ortiz fired a shot on goal from 15 yards out which Villalpando saved, but the Puebla 'keeper again left a rebound free and Ortiz slammed it into the back of the net.

Pablo Zeballos scored the game's fourth goal deep in the second half. Emilio Ezequiel Hernandez sent in a ball from the left side and Zeballos powered his header past Villalpando as Cruz Azul put an exclamation mark on the rout.

Goal.com

For more coverage of the Mexican Apertura 2009 season, visit Goal.com

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