Keisuke Honda’s first season in Liga MX with Pachuca was something of a disappointment with los Tuzos failing to qualify for the Apertura playoffs. However, the 31-year-old Japanese attacker recently showcased his quality with fantastic strikes against Santos and Cruz Azul, and there’s still a chance at redemption in the Copa MX.
Honda scored a fantastic brace against Zacatepec in the Round of 16, and last night he buried Tijuana in the quarterfinals with this sensational solo effort. Pachuca will now host Atlante at the Estadio Hidalgo with a place in the final on the line.
Pachuca haven’t won the Copa MX since the amateur era — that was in 1911/12. Monterrey’s Carlos Sanchez is currently the leading scorer in the 2017 Apertura Copa MX with four goals, but Honda is now only one goal behind him.