An injury time goal gave Pumas the 1-1 tie against Leon in a match that was better than expected but didn’t help either team. Pumas and Leon looked to get to the Liguilla/Play In Zone but the solitary
point didn’t help as both teams looked to be out of post season contention. Pumas will return home for a must win match against Tijuana while Leon will have an incredible tough task away against Club America.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out without a true forward as Alan Medina would have to do that job because of the injury that prevented the start of Jose Juan Macias and the lackluster level from Santiago Lopez. For Leon, the notable thing was James Rodriguez wasn’t starting the match. After getting into the area, Alvaro Angulo got off a left footed shot that went wide. Jose Ramirez got off a right footed shot in the area but Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, made a good save. After getting the ball in the area, Medina got off a right footed shot that was deflected and then saved bu Leon’s goalkeeper, Oscar Garcia, and then the ball hit the post. After a cross into the area was deflected, it fell to Salvador Reyes, who got off an incredible bicycle kick that was brilliantly saved by Navas. A shot from outside the area by Jorge Ruvalcaba was easily saved by Garcia. Ruvalcaba would have another right footed shot that Garcia would make a better save on it. Off a free kick, Ismael Diaz got off a right footed shot that forced Navas to make a great save. After getting the ball in the area, Ruvalcaba got off a left footed shot that went wide. The halftime whistle blew in a match that had been more entertaining that expected.
The 2nd half started with no changes from either club. Medina got off a left footed shot in the area that was deflected wide. Leon subbed out Emilio Rodriguez for James Rodriguez. Ivan Moreno would make a good move and get off a cross that went past Navas and then Alfonso Alvarado would slide to pounce on the ball from close range into the empty net and score the goal that gave Leon the 1-0 lead. It was a great play but Pumas would respond when Ruvalcaba got off a right footed shot in the area as he fell that would be saved by Garcia. The referee ruled that Ruvalcaba had been brought down and gave Pumas a Penalty Kick. Nathan stepped up to take the PK but he got off a terrible right footed shot that was saved by Garcia. Diaz got off a right footed shot that went wide. Pumas subbed out Pablo Monroy and Angel Azuaje for Adalberto Carrasquilla and Pedro Vite. Leon subbed out Ismael Diaz for Jordi Cortizo. Pumas kept trying to get that tying goal while it looked like Leon was going to start sitting back and defending their lead. Leon subbed out Alfonso Alvarado and Ivan Moreno for Ettson Ayon and Sebastian Santos. After getting into the area, Ayon got off a left footed shot that went well wide. Pumas subbed out Ulises Rivas for Jose Juan Macias. Rodrigo Lopez got off a right footed shot from way outside the area that Garcia saved. Pumas subbed out Alan Medina for Angel Rico. After Angulo got brought down in the area, another PK was given to Pumas. Jose Juan Macias would take the PK and he would get off a right footed shot past Garcia to score and tie the match at 1-1. Rico got the ball in the area and got off a left footed shot that forced Garcia to make a great save. In the ensuing corner kick, the cross got into the area where Nathan skied his shot from close range. A cross into the area was headed by Ruvalcaba and it went just wide. That was the final chance and the match would end with a tie that didn’t help either team.
Pumas got a last minute goal that gave them a point that didn’t help as their season seems to come undone. Days after a terrible match where they lost at home against Atletico San Luis, Pumas improved a lot but still weren’t able to get the victory and now sit at 13th in the table with only two matches left. Pumas will now have a must win match for their final home game of the 2025 Apertura season against Tijuana, in a match where they will go back to their 12:00 PM start time which they don’t use anymore. Leon was even in bigger trouble and now sit in next to last place at 17th and are now all but out of the play in. They will also have a very tough away match against Club America as it looks like they will be eliminated by the time they play because of other results.
