Washington Corozo with a double helps the Pumas to eliminate América from the league and advance to the semifinals

The Ecuadorian Washington Corozo scored a couple of goals on Saturday night to guide the UNAM Pumas to a 1-3 triumph over América, at the Azteca Stadium, with which they qualified for the semifinal of the Apertura 2021 tournament in Liga MX.

Corozo, twice and the Brazilian Higor Matheus Meritao, once, scored for the university students and the Argentine Victor Aguilera did it for América.

The 23-year-old striker from Guayaquil has been the protagonist of this Sunday’s cover of the newspaper Récord, which he baptized as’Pumaztecazo ‘ the triumph of the felines the colossus of Santa Úrsula (the Aztec).

The duel began at a good pace, with America dominating, but in minute 5 Sebastián Saucedo took advantage of a failure by the Spanish Álvaro Fidalgo and created danger in the goal defended by Guillermo Ochoa.

In a good play, the Colombian Roger Martínez recovered a ball in an error of Pumas in the exit; He entered the area and was knocked down by Erik Lira to provoke a penalty, well received by Aguilera.

Pumas did not slow down because of the blow against him; It was for the tie and he was close to achieving it through Corozo, who lost a heads-up with Ochoa.

The Ecuadorian attacker failed again in an arrival at a time when the university students took possession of the ball and also let the goal go with two hits on the crossbar in consecutive header by Argentine Juan Ignacio Dinenno.

In the 29th Alán Mozo entered the right wing and put a cross into the area finished off by Corozo, who rescued the tie and in the 42nd gave the Pumas a 1-2 lead with a head shot.

For the second half, the Pumas, eleventh in the table who reached the quarterfinals by way of the repechage, stood well and gave priority to defense without ruling out a counterattack if the rival left spaces in their need to attack.

The university’s forecast was fulfilled in 82, when Mozo escaped and put his third pass to goal of the night, completed with a header from Meritao, the lapidary 1-3.

Pumas, who in 2004 was league champion after finishing ninth in the table and rebounding to the league, has now emerged as one of the favorites for the title.

With his double against America, Corozo reached 5 goals so far in the 2021 Apertura tournament of Mexican soccer, three scored during the regular season in thirteen appearances. In the league he accumulates two performances. (D)