San Luis 2 – 1 Toluca

San Luis keeps living a fairy tale season, going from the brink of relegation to the Mexican league final after a 2-1 (4-2) home win over defending champs, Toluca, who had been given a gift as the national team sent back Israel Lopez.

It was an unusual scenario for the Red Devils, playing as visitors and having to win by at least two goals to stay alive, an unenviable position which they have not been used to.

The home team withstood a charge from Toluca and came through in virtually their first scoring opportunity.

Israel Martinez was arguable the game’s MVP, setting up both scores.

In the 18th minute Martinez found Angel Reyna, who beat his man and drilled a right-booted shot for the first goal of the match.

As a champion should, Toluca answered with a ferocious attack, yet the Adrians, defender Garcia Arias and goalkeeper Martinez were instrumental in keeping the home team ahead.

Martinez did it again in the 50th, this time hitting Octavio Valdez who saw Cristante leave his spot and shot home the dagger for the Devils.

A minute later, with San Luis still celebrating their goal, Israel Lopez, showing no bad feelings after being left out of the World Cup, shot a free kick that cut the lead in half, and gave the Devils new hope.

Nevertheless, the Potosi side stood firm, never letting up as they could all taste their first final, their first shot at a championship.

San Luis will play Pachuca in the final, which kicks off Thursday, May 18th in San Luis and culminates Sunday, May 21st in Pachuca.

Pachuca 2 – 3 Chivas

Either a miracle comeback or a monster collapse, any way you slice it, Pachuca advanced to the final with after a last-second goal in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Chivas.

It was sew-saw battle to the finish in another dramatic Mexican league playoff game that saw the young Chivas, relying on an old goat, nearly pull off a splendid comeback at Pachuca with two goals by the exuberant ‘Bofo’ Bautista.

Chivas missed out on a few scoring chances, until the 37th minute.

Guadalajara’s Diego Martinez struck from the right side and found Omar Esparza, who cut inside, escaping two men and shot the opposite side of the goalkeeper for the goal.

Series tied 2-2. Chivas needed one more to advance.

The visitors strangely began playing more conservatively afterward, and in the 58th minute, Pachuca’s main man, Uruguayan Richard Nuñez showed his leg in nailing a penalty kick that tied the game, and gave the home side a one-goal edge.

That woke up the Chivas, who went on the attack once again. And in a six-minute span, strike ace Adolfo Bautista found the net twice single-handedly to put the Guadalajara squad into the final.

As time expired, the visitors went from Holy Flock to black sheep in the blink of an eye:

In the final seconds of the three-minute injury time, Colombian Aquivaldo Mosquera got in front of goalkeeper Miguel Calero, who had left his spot to go on the offensive, and headed home a rebound that eliminated the Chivas, in their centennial, and drove the home fans wild with glee.

The Tuzos will make their fifth final appearance beginning Thursday, May 18th in San Luis and concluding Sunday, May 21st in Pachuca.

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