SCCL Review: Pumas

Pumas (pictured) convenes for a team photo prior to its Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League match against visiting DirecTV W Connection on October 20, 2016, in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo: Mexsport)

With four days left in the year, CONCACAF.com has four more 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalists to review.

Today, we take a look at Mexico’s Pumas, which earned the top spot in Group A to reach the knockout rounds for the fourth time in four attempts.

PUMAS (3W-0D-1L; 15GF, 5GA)

Group Stage Summary

Pumas could’ve been forgiven for initially thinking that progression to the quarterfinals would be a foregone conclusion. After all, its opponents were DirecTV W Connection, which never advanced past the group stage in four previous appearances, and debutant Honduras Progreso, which failed to make the 2016 Honduran Clausura playoffs months after capturing the 2015 Apertura title. Confidence was high following wins in the opening two games, but a 2-1 loss on a late goal at Honduras Progreso in Week Four caused a sense of urgency. UNAM removed all doubt, however, responding emphatically by posting an 8-1 win over W Connection. Eduardo Herrera, Jesus Gallardo and Fidel Martinez netted two goals each in victory.

Group Stage Highlight

While an 8-1 result may indicate that opposing teams aren’t evenly matched, for Pumas, a triumph by that score over W Connection was important for reasons other than competition. First, a UNAM loss would’ve seen Honduras Progreso advance to the quarterfinals. Second, the performance demonstrated that Pumas can deal with adversity, bouncing back from a 2-1 setback at Honduras Progreso in its previous outing. An ability to call on that resiliency could serve Juan Francosco Palencia’s side well, especially when it faces fellow Liga MX side Tigres in the quarterfinals.

Key Player

While Eduardo Herrera, who recently moved to Veracruz, was inspirational in the decisive win over W Connection, winger Jesus Gallardo was crucial to Pumas’ overall success. The 22-year-old scored two goals and registered four assists in three games. His ability to get up and down the left side of the field was a distraction to opposing defenses, creating openings from which teammates could take advantage.

After the Group Stage

By virtue of finishing in sixth place, Pumas clinched a spot in the 2016 Liga MX Apertura playoffs with an 8W-3D-6L record. In the quarterfinals, though, it ran into eventual-champion Tigres and fell 7-2 on aggregate. Rosters changes were made ahead of the 2017 Clausura. Gone are midfielders Saul Berjon and Fidel Martinez (Atlas); defenders Marcelo Alatorre (Veracruz) and Luis Fuentes (Monterrey); and forwards Eduardo Herrera (Veracruz) and Jose Alfonso Nieto (Herediano). The offensive production generated by Alatorre, Berjon, Hererra, Martinez and Nieto will be sorely missed as the quintet combined for ten goals and six assists in group-stage play. In are Nicolas Castillo (forward, Universidad Catolica); Alan Mendoza (midfielder, Dorados); Bryan Rabello (forward, Santos); and Erik Vera (defender, Necaxa).

2016/17 SCCL MATCHES

GROUP E

03.08.16 DirecTV W Connections 2, Pumas 4

Hughtun Hector 44'; Jamal Charles 84' / Luis Quintana 10’; Jose Van Rankin 57’; Alfonso Nieto 73’; Omar Islas 90’+4

18.08.16 Pumas 2, Honduras Progreso 0

Eduardo Herrera 66'; Saul Berjon 90'+2

15.09.16 Honduras Progreso 2, Pumas 1

Victor Moncada 57', 90'+1 / Jose Alfonso Nieto 26’

20.10.16 Pumas 8, DirecTV W Connection 1

Saul Berjon 17'; Eduardo Herrera 30', 39'; Jesus Gallardo 55', 71'; Jose Alfonso Nieto 79'; Fidel Martinez 85', 89' / Briel Thomas 60’

QUARTERFINALS

22.02.17 Tigres v Pumas (Estadio Universitario – San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico)