Guillermo Rivarola thought it was a "perfect game" that Pachuca played against Toluca - which apparently needs a little more perfecting.

Earning a 1-1 draw at Toluca last week in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals leaves the Tuzos in prime position for Wednesday's second leg at home in Estadio Hidalgo.

"I'm left with a sour taste because I believe we played a perfect game, where we managed the ball well," Rivarola said. "We played a great game. Unfortunately the score after 90 minutes said that we had to leave with another result because one lack of focus on our part led to the equalizer."

Dario Cvitanich scored the all-important road goal in the 34th minute, but Pachuca couldn't convert any of its other scoring chances and that became costly later in the match.

"We are closing out the series at home," Rivarola said. "We scored a goal on the road. We are still left with a sour taste because we could have put the series away here."

Pachuca, which extended its Champions League unbeaten streak to eight straight matches, defeated Indios 2-1 at Olimpico Benito Juarez Saturday, thanks to Damian Manso's pair, including the winner with nine remaining.

Pachuca remains in third in the Mexican Clausura's Group 2 table, one point behind second place Morelia.

"This team knows it always must battle for everything," Rivarola said. "We know that we can close things our well both in league and in CONCACAF."

Toluca, which needed an Edgar Duenas header in the 78th minute to forge the 1-1 draw, will be without Miguel Almazan and Diego Navaretti, both of whom who were expelled in the opening leg.

"We would have liked to have come out with an advantage," Duenas said. "We have a team before us who wanted to play their game and do things well, but we got the draw and we still have a chance."

Although they failed to capitalize on its home field, Duenas was encouraged to at least earn a draw at Estadio Nemesio Diez.

"With nine men, to get the draw was tough," Duenas said. "We were able to have more chances in the second half, but the important thing is we leveled the score."

Toluca thrashed 10-men Estudiantes 5-0 on Sunday to move into second place in the Mexican Clausura's Group 1 with 20 points, eight behind leaders Chivas de Guadalajara. Carlos Esquivel scored early, Osvaldo Gonzalez and Zinha added goals one minute apart later in the first half, and Antonio Rios and Diego Novaretti completed the rout with second-half tallies.