Home
No Mexican club has ever won the Copa Libertadores, and that will continue for at least another year after Pumas were bounced from the competition in the quarterfinals by Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle via a penalty shootout.
Pumas entered the second quarterfinal leg down 2-1 on aggregate, but quickly took control of the match via an Ismael Sosa breakaway.
Ismael Sosa Goal Pumas vs. Independiente Del Valle
Two minutes later Sosa scored again, a goal nearly identical to his first, and Pumas were cruising.
Ismael Sosa Second Goal Pumas vs. Independiente Del Valle
It looked over for Independiente, especially after Luis Ayala was sent off in the 56th minute.
Roja para Luis Ayala del #IndependienteDelValle Que entrada ojalá no sea grave para Sosa #PumasEnLibertadores pic.twitter.com/01HZYbDEdH
— 90 Minuts Mexico (@90minutosMex) May 25, 2016
But Independiente kept fighting, and Junior Sornoza leveled the contest (on aggregate) in the 66th minute.
Junior Sornoza Goal Pumas vs. Independiente Del Valle
That goal had a lot going on. The defense was porous. The goalkeeping was excruciating. Independiente had at least one and possibly two players offside and certainly near enough to the keeper to be counted as involved in the play.
If Pumas hadn't messed up here, or if the ref had called offside, they would be headed to the Copa Lib semi finals. Instead they're going home.
Sornoza's goal forced extra time, which led to penalties after neither team could score. Independiente won the shootout, 5-3, with Ismael Sosa running out of luck missing the penalty that allowed Independiente to advance.
Correction: this article has been updated to reflect that Pumas, not Tigres, lost in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
