Hirving Lozano (far left) is congratulated after scoring one of his four goals in Pachuca's win over host Police United in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League on September 13, 2016, in Belmopan, Belize. (Photo: Mexsport)
BELMOPAN, Belize – On a record-setting night, Pachuca (3W-0D-0L, 9 points) edged closer to a place in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, racing Tuesday to an 11-0 win over host Police United (0-0-3, 0) at FFB Stadium.
Hirving Lozano scored a SCCL-team record four goals as the Tuzos set new tournament marks for most goals scored in a single game and the largest margin of victory. Police United was officially eliminated from contention, while idle Olimpia (1-0-1, 3) remains the only team with a hope of finishing atop the Group E table.
Mateus Goncalves opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. The 21-year-old Brazilian dribbled down the middle of the field and completed a give-and-go with Franco Jara, before firing home from the left side of the box with his left foot from 14-yards out.
Five minutes later, Goncalves and Jara reversed roles to double the advantage. Goncalves received the ball in the right side of the penalty area and slipped a pass into the six-yard box for an unmarked Franco to bundle into the net.
The score bulged to 3-0 in the 30th minute. Lozano collected a pass from Victor Guzman on the left wing, dribbled into box and cut into middle to create space. The Mexico international then tucked a right-footed shot into the right side of the net from eight-yards out.
Lozano and Botta netted in the 35th and 44th minutes, respectively, to give Pachuca a 5-0 lead at the half.
The break didn’t slow down the visitor, which remained on the front foot.
In the 51st minute, Botta caught Police United napping to sneak a left-footed free kick from 25 yards past goalkeeper Keith Allen, who was trying to organize a wall.
Joaquin Esquivel’s first goal in the 72nd minute was bookended by strikes from Lozano in the 69th and 79th minutes.
With five minutes remaining in normal time, Pachuca equaled Club America’s record for the most goals scored in a single SCCL game as Esquivel headed in from three-yards out at the right post off Erick Gutierrez’s splendid chip from outside the box.
Gutierrez then made sure the four-time CONCACF club champion's smashed the SCCL goal mark in the 89th minute, controlling Lozano’s pass from the left and rolling an effort beyond a beleaguered Allen.
Group E returns to action on September 29 with Olimpia visiting Police United.
NOTES: Club America previously held the record for the most goals scored in a SCCL match, beating host Puerto Rico Bayamon, 10-1, on September 17, 2014.
