Chivas, Pachuca both win InterLiga finals on PKs

Mexico's most historic and popular club, Chivas Rayadas del Guadalajara, will be participate in the 2009 Copa Libertadores after it defeated Morelia in a penalty shootout in the second InterLiga final at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Sunday.

With its leading performance in group play and finals victory, Chivas also took home the Torneo InterLiga 2009 title.

Since the start of the encounter, both sides came out with the intention of taking the match in regular time and avoid the penalty "lottery."

It was Chivas who proved dangerous first with Carlos Ochoa and Alberto Medina, but Morelia immediately responded with plays on the wings and long shots forcing the best reactions out of goalkeeper Luis Michel.

With the confidence of first half dominance, Monarcas emerged in similar fashion for the second half pushing Chivas back towards its own end and making goalkeeper Michel a protagonist in the match.

In the 57th minute, its persistence would be rewarded when, off a corner kick, Carlos Ochoa ended up heading the ball into his own goal in an attempt to clear it, handing Morelia the 1-0 lead.

Worried by the Monarcas dominance, Chivas coach Efraín Flores took a risk and substituted midfielder Marco Fabián in place of defender Mario de Luna. Two minutes later, Fabián would respond with an incredible one-timed shot for a golazo which tied the encounter at 1-1 in the 65th minute.

Morelia defender Fernando Salazar would receive a second yellow card a minute after the tying goal, leaving his team a man short to fend off the constant wave of attack deployed by Chivas.

However, Morelia's defense was well organized and stood its ground until the final whistle that sent the second final to a penalty shootout.

The encounter did not feature the best soccer by the Guadalajara side, but in shots from the penalty spot, it proved to be the most assertive and effective.

Carlos Ochoa, Marco Fabián, Héctor Reynoso and Gonzalo Pineda scored for Chivas, while for Morelia Marvin Cabrera and Óscar Rojas scored, but Wilson Tiago and Hugo Droguett missed.

With the 4-2 (5-3 aggregate) penalty shootout victory, Guadalajara earned the direct ticket to the Libertadores group stage.

Chivas is are installed in Group 6 where it will face Lanús of Argentina, Everton of Chile and Caracas of Venezuela. -- César García, Goal.com

Pachuca downs Atlas on PKs

CARSON, California (AP) -- Pachuca beat Atlas on penalties in the final round of the Interliga tournament Sunday to book a place in the qualifying stage of the Copa Libertadores South American club championship.

Goalkeeper Miguel Calero stopped four shots in 13 rounds of penalty kicks to ensure Pachuca won the shootout 10-9 after conceding a 3-0 lead to end regulation time level with Atlas at 3-3.

Edgar Benitez scored in the 14th and 17th minutes, and Christian Gimenez found the net in the 34th as Pachuca built a commanding 3-0 lead.

But Atlas rallied in the second half despite playing with 10 men after Hugo Ayala was sent off moments before halftime.

After Gonzalo Vargas scored in the 49th, Lopez conceded own goal in the 71st to allow Achucarro to equalize in the 88th with a looping 18-yard header just out of Calero's reach.

Paul Aguilar converted his penalty to give Pachuca a 10-9 lead in the shootout, then Calero lunged to block Jorge Achucarro's shot with his right hand.

Calero previously stopped Achucarro by pouncing to his right, dived to parry Luis Robles's shot away and blocked Lucas Ayala's attempt.

Pachuca's Leobardo Lopez and Blas Perez each converted two penalties, as did Atlas' Edgar Pacheco.