MEXICO CITY (AP) — Juan Dinenno scored a first-half brace as Pumas defeated Cruz Azul 2-1 on Tuesday to take the lead in their Concacaf Champions League semifinal series.
The Argentine striker converted his goals in the 36th and 45th minutes to give victory to the university students, who are in the semifinals of the regional tournament for the first time since 2012.
Pumas now requires any draw and will reach the final for the first time since the tournament changed format in 2008-09.
The university students won the Concacaf Cup three times, as the tournament was called before, in the 1980, 1982 and 1989 editions
Uruguayan Christian Tabó discounted at 83 for Cruz Azul, who is back in the semifinals for the second consecutive tournament. Last year they succumbed to eventual champion Monterrey.
La Maquina seeks the seventh Concacaf title to tie America as the most successful team in the area.
To reach the final, Cruz Azul requires a 1-0 victory and would advance thanks to the away goal or 2-1 to force penalties.
In this tournament, tied series are settled with both as a visitor.
The second leg is next Tuesday on the field of the Azteca stadium.
The winner of this series will face the team that prevails in the key between New York City FC and the Seattle Sounders, which begins to be played this Wednesday night.
Pumas dominated the game and was close to going ahead in the 30th minute with a shot by Argentine Fabio Álvarez that was deflected over the line by Peruvian defender Luis Abram.
Dinenno gave a first warning at 34 and opened the scoring a couple of minutes later, taking advantage of a cross from Ecuadorian Washington Corozo from the left. He pushed the ball over Abram’s top mark.
Before the break, full-back Alan Mozo sent a precise cross from the right wing into the area where Dinenno hit a header that hit the right post of goalkeeper Jurado, who remained static.
Cruz Azul tried to reduce the deficit in the complement, but with little depth until the Chilean Iván Morales sent a center from the left towards the area, where Tabó connected a shot that left goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera without a chance.
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