Arellano equalizes Chivas, Pumas

Published May. 13, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Omar Arellano scored a late equalizer as Chivas of Guadalajara overcame the early sending off of its captain to secure a 1-1 home draw against UNAM Pumas in the Mexican league playoff semifinals on Thursday.

Chivas captain Hector Reynoso was shown a red card for dissent in the 33rd and Pumas capitalized when Efrain Velarde put the visitors ahead with a back-post header from Dante Lopez' hooked cross in the 52nd minute.

Pumas also played with 10 men after David Cabrera was shown a second yellow card just before the end of the first half.

Arellano leveled when his low 30-yard shot bounced over Pumas goalkeeper Alejandro Palacio's weak attempt at a save in the 89th.

''Of course, the draw doesn't say much for us, but we can come through the second leg if we can show enough personality and desire,'' Arellano said. ''It was a very hard-fought match.''

Pumas could have taken the lead earlier when Luis Fuentes' header was saved on the line by Chivas' keeper Luis Michel in the 28th.

The rebound fell kindly for Martin Bravo but he appeared to be impeded by Erick Torres with the goal gaping, yet referee Paul Delgadillo waved play on.

Central defender Reynoso was sent off for complaining about an apparent dive by Bravo shortly after and Pumas began to create chances despite Cabrera's red card for a shove on Arellano in first-half stoppage time.

Reynoso's absence from the backline was felt when Velarde scored his second goal of the playoffs just after the restart.

The return leg will be played on Sunday in Pumas' Ciudad Universitaria stadium.

Chivas will have to win that match to progress as Pumas finished higher in the league table during the regular season.