Apertura Week 17: Chivas 2, Pachuca 2

Enrique Esqueda’s second goal of the match, in the 90th minute, lifted Pachuca into a 2-2 tie with Chivas de Guadalajara Saturday at Estadio Omnilife.

Esqueda’s 54th-minute penalty kick tied the score at 1-1. He put away a rebound in the penalty area for the 2-2 equalizer.

Marco Fabian put Chivas on the board in the 21st minute, and Erick Torres scored in the 66th to leave the home team up 2-1.

Both teams played the final 40 minutes with ten men, after an altercation produced red cards to Chivas goalkeeper Luis Michel and Tuzos midfielder Javier Munoz. Michel threw the ball at Munoz’s face, and the Pachuca player retaliated with a high boot.

The single point was all Chivas (8-6-3) needed to clinch first place in the Apertura standings with 30 points. Pachuca take the sixth seed in the Liguilla with 26 points (7-5-5).

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Pachuca Throttles Monterrey 4-0 With Enrique Esqueda Scoring Twice

After Pumas, Atlante and Morelia, Monterrey became the fourth defense of the weekend to ship four goals, with the damage done in its trip to Pachuca. Enrique Esqueda led the way with a pair of goals, while Rogelio Chavez and Mauro Cejas were also on target.

Esqueda kicked off a vibrant attacking display in the 14th minute, as a bad miscue by Sergio Perez allowed Cejas to hit a clever cross to the ex-America man, who finished well. Pachuca continued to have its way with Monterrey and was rewarded for its efforts when Chavez curled in a free kick in the 33rd minute that no one got a touch on, allowing it to squeeze in at the far post.

Pachuca came out of the break and quickly showed that the first half was no fluke, with Esqueda hitting a sensational strike (rightly described by the Azteca TV announcers as a 'mega-golazo') from more than 30 meters out that left Jonathan Orozco powerless do to anything about it. Pachuca never looked too troubled in defense and added a fourth on 75 minutes through Cejas, who shed his defender and rifled in a shot to the far post.

The win, quite likely Pachuca's best showing of the season, has all but sewn up a playoff spot, while Monterrey – currently in 10th place – must defeat Atlante at home on the last day of the regular season and hope for other results go its way.

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Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero Denies Pumas Win in 0-0 Draw

Neither Pachuca nor Pumas could find the net in a defensive-minded affair that saw retiring Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero once again emerge as the hero in his sendoff match. The Colombian shot stopper made a number of good saves to keep Pumas off the board, while Pumas can take heart in keeping a clean sheet after conceding four goals in each of their last two games. The point earned saw both sides hold to playoff berths.

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Tigres UANL Move Into Fourth Place with 3-2 win over Pachuca

A Dario Cvitanich brace in the game's first hour wasn't enough to dissuade the Tigers last Tuesday in Pachuca.

After the Argentine found the net in the 45th and 57th minutes, young Francisco Acuña made it 2-1 five minutes later off a header set up by Jorge Torres Nilo.

With just fourteen minutes remaining, a controversial call swung the game's momentum squarely in favor of the university side, as Lucas Lobos scored off a penalty kick caused by a Javier Muñoz infraction.

Pachuca coach Pablo Marini raised some eyebrows prior to that, when he took Cvitanich out in the 69th minute and replaced him with Herculez Gomez.

Referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez's decision to call that penalty kick clearly weighed on Marini's squad, as they gave up a third goal in just seventeen minutes when Damian Alvarez slotted an Itamar Batista pass into the back of the Pachuca net.

The result pushes Tigres up to fourth in the league table; they are nearly assured of a playoff berth.

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Tijuana Finally Grabs Win by Edging Pachuca 3-2

Tijuana finally grabbed its elusive first home win, edging out Pachuca in a dramatic encounter at the Estadio Caliente. Juan Pablo Santiago was the unlikely hero on the day for Xolos, scoring twice in the second half, including the winner 22 minutes from time.

The early signs pointed to another disappointing home showing for Xolos, with Joshua Abrego having the misfortune to turn the ball into his own net from a Mauro Cejas cross in the 20th minute, the first real chance from either side. The home team responded before halftime after picking up the pace of the game, though, as Raul Enriquez curled home a free kick from just outside the penalty area.

Three minutes after halftime, Xolos took the lead with Santiago's first tally of the match, as he got free to head home a corner from Leandro Augusto. Despite the goal giving Tijuana continued momentum, Pachuca was once again able to peg the hosts back as Elias Hernandez lashed home a stunning volley from outside the area.

Santiago would have the final say, though, as he would take advantage of more slack marking from Pachuca to head home his second goal, also from a corner kick. The visitors upped the pressure in search of a late equalizer, but Tijuana held on for a dramatic and much-needed win, its first in front of its own fans.

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Pachuca put on a defensive clinic to deny Jaguares: Final Score 1-0

Pachuca put on a defensive masterclass to deny Jaguares an opportunity to stay on top of the table, winning 1-0. Elias Hernandez scored the game's lone goal 17 minutes in after his powerful run left the Jaguares defense in chaos, allowing Hernandez time to pick his spot and finish. However, the real story of the game was Pachuca's defensive organization, preventing Jaguares from generating any real spells of pressure in the absence of star forward Jackson Martinez. Jaguares' Oscar Razo was given his marching orders in the 71st minute for a second yellow card, denting the southern side's hopes of a comeback.

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Pachuca and San Luis play to a draw at Estadio Hidalgo

Pachuca played San Luis to a 1-1 draw Saturday at Estadio Hidalgo.

The game was decided within an eight-minute span of the first half. Michael Arroyo gave the Gladiadores a 1-0 advantage in the 36th minute, after goalkeeper Carlos Velasquez collided with defender Rogelio Chavez, and Enrique Esqueda countered for the Tuzos in the 44th, with a header off a Rogelio Chavez corner kick.

Pachuca (4-2-4) remain in a multi-team tie for seventh place at 14 points, two points ahead of San Luis (3-3-4).

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Mexican club Pachuca interested in American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley

According to the Washington Post, Mexico club, Pachuca is actively pursuing Hanover, Germany's DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley arrived in Mexico for formal negotiations and a workout to make sure he doesn’t have any physical issues. Terms and conditions of a contract and transfer will also be on the agenda.

If a deal is not reached with Pachuca Beasley could remain at Hanover and continue to collect his guaranteed earnings (an estimated $500,000).

Beasley is a fantastic left wing and a move to Pachuca could showcase his abilities. Although some are critical that he has not been with a club longer than a few years, I think he could make a lasting impression with the Mexican squad.

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