Metapan, El Salvador, Thursday 8 March 2012.– Lester Blanco scored once in each half and Isidro Metapan stunned Pumas UNAM 2-1 Thursday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series.
It was the second time this season Metapan has beaten a Mexican opponent, having defeated Santos 2-0 in El Salvador on August 24.
Pumas - with only one win in its last seven -- will host the second leg next Thursday at Estadio Olimpico in Mexico City, where it is winless in three matches since January 15. It has only loss twice at home in the Champions League in 13 matches, both 1-0 defeats to Cruz Azul and FC Dallas.
Blanco, whose team-leading four goals has helped Metapan to the top of the Salvadoran Clausura, tallied in the 27th and 49th minutes, enough for Metapan to withstand Eduardo Herrera's strike in the 67th.
Using the same starting 11 from Sunday's 2-0 victory over Toluca which ended Pumas' six-game winless streak, the Mexican side had the better of play early, but Antonio Garcia drew the first of four yellow cards for UNAM in the 21st minute and its night deteriorated from there.
Cristhian Bautista sprinted free on the right, worked his way to the byline and sent a low cross into the feet of Blanco. The 23-year-old midfielder settled with his back to goal, and then eluded Garcia, Luis Fuentes and Ferando Espinosa before spinning 180 degrees to hit a low shot from eight meters that settled in the far side netting.
Despite going off injured for about five minutes late in the first half, Blanco returned after the intermission and outleapt his marker just outside the goalbox to head in Ramon Sanchez's corner kick for a 2-0 Metapan lead.
He would eventually be replaced by Allan Kardeck in the 63rd.
Herrera revived Pumas' hopes, settling a cross from Emilio Orrantia on the right with a touch of his right foot nearly on top of the penalty spot, touched it toward goal and beat Metapan keeper Miguel Montes high from eight meters.
Pumas began to control more of the possession and had its chances to equalize, missing its best opportunity when Herrera sent a header from Espinosa's cross wide low in the 87th.
Metapan is bidding to become only the third team not from Mexico or the United States to advance past the quarterfinals in the 3½ years of the Champions League, joining the Puerto Rico Islanders and Saprissa of Costa Rica.
*With information from the CONCACAF
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