Monterrey survive penalty misses
Reuters - Sunday 06 March 2011, 04:01
MEXICO CITY - Title holders
Monterrey survived two missed penalties by Queretaro before
beating them 2-0 in the Mexican championship on Saturday.
Queretaro's former Uruguay striker Carlos Bueno was brought
down after 30 minutes and took the penalty himself, but saw his
effort saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco.
Just before half-time, midfielder Isaac Acuna was pushed by
William Paredes for Queretaro's second spot-kick. Winger Hector
Altamirano snatched the ball from Bueno's hands and put it on
the spot but blasted the penalty over the bar.
Substitute Abraham Carreno put Monterrey ahead in the 48th
minute and Luis Perez added their second with 16 minutes
remaining.
Monterrey, winners of the Apertura title in December, are
second in Group One of the Clausura, five points behind leaders
Tigres UANL, who were held 0-0 at Guadalajara.
Earlier in the day, Pachuca's Argentine coach Pablo Marini
resigned after his team fell to their fourth defeat in nine
games, 1-0 away to Estudiantes UAG on Friday.
Marini, who leaves Pachuca bottom of Group Two, struggled to
build a successful team in his six months at the helm, which
included a poor fifth place at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
"Things did not work out as we had hoped. I had incredible
support until today," he told reporters.
"One has to be sincere, honest and professional, taking the
decision at the right time, unfortunately at the best club where
I've been a trainer and where things didn't go well for me."
America lead Group Two after a 3-2 away win over Santos
Laguna with two goals from midfielder Angel Reyna including
their 88th-minute winner.
Pumas UNAM held a three-point lead over Cruz Azul and
Morelia in Group Three before playing at Atlante later on
Saturday.
The top two in each of the three groups and the two next
best-placed teams in the overall standings after the 17-match
round robin phase qualify for the quarter-finals.