Pachuca strike first with win over Pumas

Pachuca defeated Pumas by a 1-0 score in the first leg of their semifinals series. Pachuca was clearly the better team over a lackluster Pumas, who now need to win on Sunday to be able to make it to the Liga MX final. In a very exciting Liguilla, the match between Pachuca and Pumas failed to live to that level of play. Pumas would go thru with a win by any score on Sunday but a tie would give the ticket to the Liga MX final to Pachuca.

The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with a more defensive squad, including not starting Juninho. Adalberto Carrasquilla took a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Enner Valencia got into the area, went past a defender and got off a right footed shot that was blocked by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas . A cross into the area was brilliantly lowered by Kennedy but his left footed shot went weakly right to Navas. A cross from Ousssama Idrissi turned into a shot that was saved by Navas. Use again, Idrissi got off a right footed cross that turned into a shot that Navas had to stop. While Pachuca’s early dominance ended, Pumas didn’t improve and didn’t create any chances. Idrissi got off a right footed shot from outside the area that was saved by Navas. A mistake by Navas and a defender ended up giving away a corner kick. In the ensuing corner kick, Oussama Idrissi would get off a right footed shot from outside the area that was deflected off Nathan and went past Navas to score and give Pachuca the deserved 1-0 lead. Pumas tried to respond and gained more possession but that didn’t lead to any dangerous opportunities. The halftime whistle blew and Pachuca took their deserved lead to the break.

The 2nd half started with neither team making a change during the break. A cross into the area would find Valencia but his right footed volley bounced off a defender. Cristian Rivera got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez for Uriel Antuna . There seem to be a controversial play when Robert Morales fell in the area but the referee judged it to be a dive and gave him a Yellow card. Brian Garcia got off a right footed shot from a free kick that went wide. A great thru pass allowed Elias Montiel to get into the area but his right footed shot was saved by Navas. Pachuca subbed out Elias Montiel for Salomon Rondon . Pumas subbed out Adalberto Carrasquilla for Cesar Garza. Rondon got off a shot in the area but it was deflected and cleared by Nathan. Pachuca subbed out an injured Enner Valencia for Alexei Dominguez. A low cross into the area was volleyed by Ruben Duarte but his left footed shot was brilliantly saved by Pachuca’s goalkeeper, Carlos Moreno. It was Pumas’ first dangerous chance and it came in the 80th minute. Victor Guzman got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Pumas subbed out Robert Morales for Juninho. Pachuca subbed out Oussama Idrissi and Kennedy for Gael Alvarez and Luis Quiñones. After Eduardo Bauermann lost a ball which allowed Juninho to win it and go for a 1 vs 1, he would foul him and earn a Yellow card. After going to VAR, it was judged that he was the last man defender and he stopped a clear chance at goal which meant it was a red card and Pachuca was left with 10 players. It was too little to late to help Pumas and Pachuca took the victory and the lead in the series.

Pachuca came into the series as the biggest surprise in the Quarterfinals by defeating current Liga MX champions Toluca (although Pachuca had the better regular season record). They surprised everybody again by defeating a lackluster Pumas and now forcing the Liga MX regular seasons leader to win on Sunday. Pumas once again gave a disappointing match although unlike their games against America (where they had great starts and faltered), they were dominated all thru the match. Coach Efrain Juarez has failed to win a post season match with Pumas and with the loss (only the 2nd for Pumas in the Clausura 2026), he has to win or their season will end. Pachuca will have to face the loss of suspended Bauermann for the return leg and the possible injury for Valencia but another good performance might have them making the Liga MX final, which will be a major surprise.