Pachuca's Mateus Gonclaves (middle) gets congratulated by a teammate after scoring in a Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League win over visiting Olimpia on August 2, 2016, in Pachuca, Mexico. (Photo: Mexsport)
PACHUCA, Mexico -- Mateus Goncalves scored early and Pachuca made sure that goal stood up as it recorded a 1-0 victory over Olimpia in the Group E opener of the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League at the Estadio Hidalgo on Tuesday night.
The Tuzos remained unbeaten in 11 all-time SCCL home games -- improving to 10W-1D-0L -- while Olimpia lost for the fifth straight time on the road in the competition.
Goncalves found the back of the net in the fourth minute. He dribbled down the middle of the field from just inside his own end and faked to create space, before uncorking a right-footed shot from 21-yards out that beat goalkeeper Donis Escober at the near-right post.
Custodian Alfonso Blanco posted Pachuca's first SCCL shutout in more than six years, or since a 1-0 home win over Cruz Azul on April 28, 2010 -- a span of seven games.
Group E action resumes on August 16 with Olimpia hosting Belize’s Police United.
