California native Miguel Ángel Ponce put in a full shift at left back as Guadalajara rescued a 1-1 tie against Pumas UNAM in the first leg of their Mexican Primera División semifinal series on Thursday evening.
Both squads came out with the will to attack, but an attractive first half of soccer was overshadowed by two red cards.
In the 33rd minute, Chivas captain Héctor Reynoso was given a red card for mouthing off to the referee. He was joined by Pumas’ David Cabrera just before the half, as the player earned his second yellow card.
With the ranks level at 10 men each, Pumas broke through first in the 52nd minute, when Efraín Velarde dove to nod home a cross from Dante López.
Just when it seemed Pumas would snatch their first victory in 29 years on Chivas soil, Rojiblancos forward Omar Arellano unleashed a 30-yarder that found its way into the net for the equalizer.
Ponce and Chivas will now head to Ciudad Universitaria, where they will look to beat Pumas at Estadio Universitario on Sunday afternoon to book a ticket to the Clausura 2011 final.
In Colombian Liga Postobón action, American goalie Diego Restrepo made the 16-man squad for América de Cali, who played to a 1-1 tie against visiting Millonarios.
