Ciudad Juarez (Mexico), November 26 (EFE).- Portuguese Paulinho on Wednesday strengthened his position as the top scorer in Mexican football by scoring a goal in champion Toluca’s 1-2 away win over Juarez at the start of the quarter-finals of the inaugural tournament.
Juarez took the lead in the third minute with a goal from Colombian Jesus Murillo, but Toluca came back with goals from Antonio Briceño and Paulinho.
The students of Uruguayan Martin Farini came out to put pressure on the leaders of the regular stage in their stadium, and they hit them with a header from Murillo after a pass from Panamanian Jose Luis Rodriguez.
Without any rush, the Devils, led by Argentine strategist Antonio Mohamed, controlled the ball, half the field and the match. They harassed the opposition goal, but fell short of a goal, partly due to three timely saves by goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado.
In the second half, Toluca came back again with advanced lines. Paraguayan Robert Morales failed with everything in his favor in the 46th minute, but the team insisted on attacking, and in the 56th minute they equalized with a goal from Briceño.
Toluca went for more. He moved well on the wings and stifled the defense until the tournament’s top scorer, Paulinho, appeared in the 66th minute and scored with his left foot inside the penalty area.
The visitors once again lacked strength, yet they achieved a victory that put the team in their favor of reaching the semi-finals.
In the second leg on Saturday, Juarez needs to win by two goals to be able to eliminate Toluca. If they tie, they will be eliminated because they finished a season lower in the regular stage than their opponent.
This Wednesday, in continuation of the first-leg matches of the best-of-eight round, the Spanish team Monterrey, led by Sergio Ramos, will host the American team, its compatriot Alvaro Fidalgo, in a match with difficult expectations.
Then, in a match that begins today and ends in the early hours of Thursday morning, central Mexican time, Tijuana will meet Tigres, led by Argentine Angel Correa.
Cruz Azul is scheduled to visit Guadalajara on Thursday. Evie
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