Mexico

Toluca Claim Top Spot While Puebla Find Fortune

Toluca beat Puebla 2-0 in the regular-season finale to claim the top spot in the overall league table; Puebla meanwhile clinched a spot despite the result.

Nov 15, 2009 12:10:29 AM

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Raul Nava- Toluca vs Tecos (Mexsport)

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Puebla were fortunate that their late-season skid did not result in a missed playoff opportunity.

A week after losing 4-0 at Cruz Azul, Puebla closed out the regular season with another poor effort as Toluca handed la Franja a 2-0 setback.

Puebla finished on 26 points and claimed the seventh spot in the overall league table despite the loss. Had Pachuca managed to win by a lopsided amount of goals, los Tuzos would have claimed the spot and knocked Puebla out. Instead, Tigres and Pachuca finished 1-1 and Puebla stumbled into the postseason.

Toluca, meanwhile, cliamed the top spot in the table for the second consecutive season. Los Diablos Rojos finished on 35 points and will play lowly San Luis in the first round of the postseason.

Raul Nava scored both goals for Toluca. The first came just past the quarter hour. Diego Novaretti found Nava in front of the goal. Nava ripped a shot into the back of the net to give the visitors the early advantage.

Just 10 minutes later, Toluca scored again. Antonio Naelson "Zinha" set the play up with masterful service from the left side of the box. Zinha held the ball as Puebla defenders collapsed in front of him. Zinha sent a low ball to the front of the six-yard box, and Nava did well to dive and deflect the ball past Jorge Villalpando and into the back of the net.

Toluca easily closed out the game as Puebla ran out of steam. Luckily for la Franja, they had managed enough points in the first 15 weeks of the season to see the club through. Puebla's reward, however, seems insurmountable as Puebla will meet Cruz Azul in the first round.

Goal.com

For more coverage of the Mexican Primera Division, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.

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