Pumas got their first home win of the Apertura 2026 after beating Leon by a 3-1 score. Pumas played a solid match and were able to recover after giving up the tying goal to get a solid three points and climb into the Liguilla zone with the victory. Leon battled hard but it wasn’t enough. They will return home to host Atletico San Luis on Monday while Pumas will have a tough away match on Sunday when they visit Guadalajara to face off against Chivas.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with their
usual starting 11 and without Cesar Huerta, who was expected to make his return to Pumas but was rule out because of an injury. Off a counter, Jordi Cortizo got off a left footed shot that would go just wide. Ismael Diaz got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went just wide. A left footed shot in the area from Cristian Calderon would go wide. Off a counter, Luciano Herrera would get off a left footed shot from outside the area that would be saved by Leon’s goalkeeper, Oscar Garcia. Cristian Calderon had hurt himself when he got off his left footed shot and had to be subbed out because of that injury. Angel Azuaje was subbed in his place. In the middle of the half, an incredible rain storm started to fall which would probably have a big impact in the match. A cross into the area found Diaz, who whiffed on his close range shot and wasted a great opportunity. A great thru pass found Uriel Antuna but the ball was cleared off his feet by Leon’s defense. After a cross into the area was bouncing in the area, Antuna would get off a right footed shot that went wide. From outside the area, Ivan Moreno got off a great right footed shot that forced a wonderful save from Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. A great cross into the area by Rodrigo Lopez was beautifully headed by Juninho past Garcia to give Pumas the 1-0 lead. It was a deserved goal as Pumas had been the better team after a slow start. A cross into the area was headed from close range by Diaz but Navas made a good save. The halftime whistle blew and after a good first 45 minutes, Pumas took the deserved lead to their dressing room.
The 2nd half started with Leon subbing out Juan Pablo Dominguez for Diber Cambindo. A cross into the area was headed wide by Herrera. A cross into the area would get to a wide open Jose Alvarado, who got off a great half bicycle kick past Navas to score and tie the match at 1-1. It was a bad mistake by Pumas’ defense in leaving Alvarado wide open but he made a great goal with the opportunity. Diaz got off a right footed shot in the area that went wide. Off a counter, the ball would eventually reach Herrera, whose right footed shot went wide. Leon subbed out Ivan Rodriguez for Rodrigo Echeverria. A lob into the area found a wide open Juninho but his right footed volley went wide in a terrible miss. Pumas subbed out Uriel Antuna for Alan Medina. Off a good run, the pass into the area found Cambindo, whose left footed shot went past Navas but hit the post. A great cross into the area form Herrera would find Robert Morales, who from close range headed the ball past Garcia to score and give Pumas the 2-1 lead. Leon subbed out Alfonso Alvarado and Christopher Mora for Ferando Beltran and Salvador Reyes. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez, Victor Arteaga and Juninho for Jesus Rivas, Adalberto Carrasquilla and Israel Luna. From outside the area, Luna got off a right footed shot that Garcia easily saved. From outside the area, Pedro Vite got off a marvelous left footed shot that went past Garcia to score and give Pumas the 3-1 lead. It looked to be the goal that settled the match as the match was minutes away from ending and now Pumas had a two goal lead. A cross into the area was headed wide by Cambindo. The final whistle blew and a huge scuffle would occur between both teams in something that might have consequences for their weekend matches.
Pumas got an important result by defeating Leon and temporarily climbing back into the Liguilla zone with the 7th place in the standings. It was a good match overall for a Pumas side that was struggling and giving average performances. Their first victory in the Apertura 2026 also came against a Leon side that was playing well and was coming off a 3rd place finish in the Leagues Cup. Pumas will have a very tough match on Sunday as they travel for an away match against Guadalajara. If Pumas has struggled somewhere, its been in Guadalajara against Chivas and they will be heavy underdogs against a Chivas side that is playing better than Pumas. Leon will have an easier match as they return home to face off against a struggling Atletico San Luis.
