| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico | June 2009 
Pumas Prevail Over Pachuca to Capture Sixth Star
 Associated Press
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| | A Pumas' soccer fan celebrates his team's victory over Pachuca and winning of Mexico's soccer league championship in Mexico City, Sunday, May 31, 2009. Pumas won 3-2 on aggregate. (AP/Marco Ugarte) | | |
Pachuca, Hgo. - Pablo Barrera scored in the 18th minute of extra time Sunday to give the Pumas their sixth Mexican League championship, rallying the club to a 2-2 draw with tournament favorites Pachuca.
In a game full of emotion and played tough on both sides from beginning to end, the Pumas came to Pachuca determined to build on their first leg victory and take home the Clausura trophy.
And they did just that.
The Pumas won the first leg 1-0 on Thursday with a Dante López goal, and claimed the title with a two-game 3-2 aggregate score.
Pachuca, which was looking to cap a remarkable Clausura, led 2-1 after regulation time.
But the Tuzos, who finished atop the league at the end of the regular season and was the playoffs' No. 1 seed, played with 10 men after David Muñoz was sent off with just seconds remaining in regulation time.
The Pumas started the extra time with more intensity, capitalizing on their one-man advantage and creating several opportunities.
Barrera came in as a substitute five minutes in and scored after breaking down the right side and hitting a low shot that got in behind Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Callero.
Pachuca took a 1-0 lead with a 33rd-minute penalty by Christian Giménez - his first of two in the match. Giménez went to the penalty spot and beat Pumas keeper Sergio Bernal after defender Efraín Juárez brought down Pachuca's Blas Pérez in the area.
Dante López equalized with a 62nd minute goal, which could have been enough to give Pumas the title.
But Giménez scored on in a free kick in the 79th, curling a shot that got in on a short hop behind Bernal to make it 2-1 and force extra time.
Pumas Martín Bravo nearly sealed the championship title in the fifth minute of extra time, hitting a shot off the post from close range.
With reporting from Antonio Ortega of Estadio |
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