Pachuca defeated Nikasha at home Monday morning (6), with the winner becoming the eighth seed in time for the end of the playoffs. (Tipoff Monday morning at 9 a.m.)
Pachuca, which finished seventh in the regular season, is always stronger than the offense. He's scored two or fewer goals in his last four league games, including Pumas, who is eighth in the elimination circle. Most of the time, he's only been able to turn in blanks, losing on 12-yard shots at each other. Pumas leads the way into the playoffs, while Pachuca has to play one more game and must steadily take the lead.
Nikasha, ranked ninth in the regular season, had a good offense but faced 10th-ranked Querétaro in the elimination round, with legal time to say one thing each. In the end, they gained a thrilling advancement by shooting each other from 12 yards. And the Nips have gotten into tough battles against Pachuca in the past. In their last four head-to-head matchups, they've won 1, 2 and 1, scoring 2 goals or less in three of them. With today's knockout game being more cautious at all times, 2.5 goals is a wise choice.
