Toluca bounce back from trailing twice in the match to get a 3-2 victory over Pumas that meant they are the only undefeated team in the Clausura 2026. Pumas’ undefeated recorded ended in large part because of a terrible goal miss that also dropped them off to 5th place. Pumas will now travel north to face off against Necaxa on Friday while Toluca return home where they will host FC Juarez.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with the same starting 11 as they had in their previous two matches.
Toluca had the return of Luan to the starting 11. Off a corner kick, the cross from Pavel Perez came dangerously close and forced a save from Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. A great cross into the area was volleyed by Paulinho and it would hit the post although it would have been offside had it gone in. A cross into the area was deflected into the path of Alan Medina but his weak shot was easily saved by Toluca’s goalkeeper, Hugo Gonzalez. After getting a thru pass in the area, Jorge Diaz Price got off a great right footed shot that forced a great save from Navas. Off a corner kick, Luan got off a header that went wide. After a good combination play, Jordan Carrillo got into the area where he got brought down by Luan and the ref gave a Penalty Kick to Pumas. Robert Morales stepped up to take the PK and got off a strong right footed shot that went past Gonzalez and into the net to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead against the run of play. From outside the area, Jesus Ricardo Angulo got off a left footed shot that was saved by Navas. After a great run, Juninho started a 2 vs o counter attack and the got off a pass that took out Gonzalez and left Morales with a wide open net shot and he sent his shot well wide in an historic bad miss. It was a sure goal for Morales and the miss was so bad, it will probably go thru the world wide media, it was that bad. Then a minute later, Jesus Ricardo Angulo made a good play and got off an incredible left footed shot that went past Navas to score and tie the match at 1-1. The game went from an almost sure 2-0 lead for Pumas to a 1-1 tie in a huge hit to Pumas. The halftime whistle blew with the tied score.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a substitution. A pass into the area would fail to be controlled by Paulinho from close range and Navas would beat him to it. Paulinho would get off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Pumas subbed out Jordan Carrillo for Uriel Antuna. From outside the area, Paulinho was given time and space to get off a right footed shot but it was easily saved by Navas. A counter from Pumas ended with Antuna getting off a right footed shot that forced a good save from Gonzalez. From outside the area, Alvaro Angulo got off a left footed shot that forced another save from Gonzalez. Off a corner kick, the ball would not be cleared well by Toluca and the ball would end up getting to Alvaro Angulo, who in the area got off a left footed shot past Gonzalez to score and give Pumas the 2-1 lead. Toluca subbed out Luan for Helinho. After getting the ball in the area, Federico Pereira got off a right footed shot that forced a great save from Navas. The ball was left there for Pereira, who got off a bicycle kick volley that would reach Paulinho, who from close range would send his shot wide. Off a counter, Morales got off a right footed shot in the area that forced a save from Gonzalez, who left the ball there but Juninho would crash the close range shot into him. From way off the half line, a huge shot from Morales would go just wide. Off a corner kick, Toluca would surprise by getting off a pass to a wide open Diego Barbosa, who got off a wonderful right footed shot from outside the area that went past Navas and into the net to score and tie the match at 2-2. It was the second consecutive match where Pumas got scored on a play like that, the only goal Tijuana scored in their previous game came off the same play. Pumas would sub out Alan Medina for Guillermo Martinez. A cross into the area would fall to Helinho, whose left footed shot was deflected wide by Pumas’ defense. Toluca subbed out Jorge Diaz Price for Nicolas Castro. Off the ensuing corner kick, the ball would eventually fall to Perez, whose right footed shot was brilliantly saved by Navas. Jesus Gallardo would get off a good shot that was headed from close range by Paulinho and although Pumas claimed an offside, the goal stood and Toluca had taken the 3-2 lead. Toluca subbed out Jesus Ricardo Angulo for Antonio Briseño. A right footed shot from Helinho was deflected wide. Pumas subbed out Angel Azuaje and Pedro Vite for Ruben Duarte and Cesar Garza. A bad clearance allowed Antuna to get off a shot in the area but his left footed shot went wide in a bad miss. In would be the last play and Toluca got the 3-2 victory that meant they were the only team without a loss in the season.
Pumas’ undefeated record came to an end with a very exciting match that ended with Toluca defeating them by a 3-2 score. While Toluca was the better team and the win was deserved, Pumas’ fans will feel and opportunity was wanted when Morales’ terrible miss meant that a 2-0 lead at home would end up a minute later with a 1-1 tie. Pumas should also be worried about the team’s defensive struggles especially after the tying goal being similar to the goal that Tijuana scored on Friday against Pumas. Pumas will need to bounce back quickly as they have to travel to play on Friday against Necaxa in Aguascalientes. Toluca will return home where they will be heavy favorites against FC Juarez as they once again are a leading candidates for the Liga MX title.
