HOUSTON – Mariano Pavone scored early in the second half to pull Cruz Azul into a 1-1 draw with Monterrey in an exhibition match between Mexican teams Thursday night.
Marlon De Jesus put Monterrey on top 1-0 in the 36th minute, getting the ball in the left box before chipping a left-footed shot over Cruz Azul goalkeeper Guillermo Allison and inside the far post.
Pavone tied it in 48th minute when Monterrey was unable to clear a ball in the box and Pavone sent a volley inside the far post from the penalty area.
Allison kept the game tied in the 63rd minute, stopping another De Jesus shot from the left box. Allison followed that up with a diving save of Carlos Acosta's free kick from outside the upper right box in the 70th minute.
Acosta just missed giving Monterrey the lead in the 87th minute when his shot from above the half circle went off the crossbar.
Pavone tried to respond immediately after De Jesus' goal, but his shot from the left box was stopped by Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco.
Cruz Azul had two shots on goal in the first 12 minutes, with a header by Achille Emana and a shot from the half circle by Mariano Pavone, both saved by Orozco.
Monterrey's first opportunity came in the 13th minute on a free kick by Neri Cardoza from about 22 yards out in the middle that Allison stopped with a diving save to his right.
Emana had another chance in the 21st minute, but his shot from 14 yards out on the right was stopped by Orozco. A minute later, Jeronimo Amione received a pass outside the upper left box, turned and fired, but his shot was stopped just outside the far post by Orozco.
De Jesus had a short breakaway in the 26th minute, but his shot from the upper box was corralled by Allison, who came off his line and made a sliding stop to clear the ball.
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