America crush Pumas, set to play Cruz Azul for Liga MX Apertura title

Club America thrashed Pumas UNAM 6-1 to progress to the final of the Apertura tournament of Mexico's Liga MX, in which they will play Cruz Azul next week.

America, which won the semi-final with an aggregate score of 7-2, dominated the second-leg on Sunday with goals by Renato Ibarra (8th minute), Bruno Valdez (28th), Roger Martinez (36th), Guido Rodriguez (46th), Diego Lainez (50th) and Victor Aguilera (71st), while the only goal for Pumas was scored by Carlos Gonzalez (24th), reports Efe.

With the first leg of the semi-finals tied 1-1 on Thursday, it was a must-win game for both the teams.

Hosts America took an early lead when Ibarra scored on a pass by Jorge Sanchez in the 8th minute.

The pace of the game picked up afterwards with the Pumas attacking with vigour and America pushing back.

The visitors equalised through a header by Gonzalez in the 25th minute which came on a Pablo Barrera pass, but Valdez restored America's lead just four minutes later, also by a header.

In the 37th minute Pumas goalkeeper Alfredo Saldivar committed a blunder by losing the ball in the penalty area, which Ibarra passed to Martinez who made the score 3-1.

The game was clearly one-sided afterwards, with America scoring within half a minute of the second half - Rodriguez sending in a corner kick - and four minutes later Lainez took the store to 5-1.

America kept attacking and looked more certain of a sixth goal than their rivals.

The sixth for the hosts came in the 72nd minute on a penalty, taken by Aguilera, after Saldivar continued his poor run and pushed a rival in the box.

Pumas defender Alan Mozo was shown a red card in the 80th minute after a tackle on Lainez.

--IANS

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