Pumas got another important victory by defeating Atletico San Luis by a 2-0 score. It was a controversial match at times but Pumas was the slightly better team and got a deserved three points that now place them in second place of the standings. Pumas continue with their surprising run and are already settled in the Liguilla. They will hope to continue in the upper part of the standings but will have another tough clash at home against FC Juarez, a team that had at times complicated things for them in Mexico
City. Atletico San Luis will host Santos as they need a miracle to get to the post season.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with their normal starting 11, the exception being Antonio Leone getting a start in defense. A left footed shot from outside the area from Alan Medina would go wide. A cross into the area was headed wide by Juninho. After getting the ball in the area, Medina got off a left footed shot that was easily saved by San Luis’ goalkeeper, Andres Sanchez. Sebastien Salles-Lamonge got of a right footed shot from outside the area that was blocked by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. Off a counter, a great pass from Adalberto Carrasquilla would find Robert Morales, who looked like he was taken down, and then he got off a right footed shot that went wide. After going to VAR, the ref determined Juanpe had taken down Morales with his slide and gave Pumas a Penalty Kick. Juninho stepped up to take the PK and got off a low right footed shot past Sanchez to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. Off a frege kick, a great cross from Carrasquilla was volleyed by Nathan past Sanchez but it hit the post.
The 2nd half started with San Luis subbing out Sebastian Perez Bouquet for David Rodriguez. After getting the ball in the area, Salles-Lamonge got off a right footed shot that went wide. Off a corner kick, Joao Pedro got off a good header that forced Navas a fantastic save. The ball would fall to Roberto Meraz, whose shot would hit the post. The ball would eventually fall to another left footed shot from Jesus Medina that Navas saved as incredibly San Luis couldn’t tie the match in that play. A cross into the area was deflected badly by Sanchez but Uriel Antuna couldn’t get the header on goal. Pumas subbed out Uriel Antuna for Jordan Carrillo. Atletico San Luis subbed out Roberto Meraz and Jesus Medina for Santiago Muñoz and Miguel Garcia. A cross into the area from Alvaro Angulo was right into the path of a wide open Carrillo but his right footed shot hit the post. Pumas subbed out Adalberto Carrasquilla and Rodrigo Lopez for Guillermo Martinez and Pablo Bennevendo. A cross into the area was almost deflected by Bennevendo into his own net. San Luis subbed out Oscar Macias for Leonardo Flores. Pumas subbed out Juninho for Cesar Garza. After a longball was won by Morales, he would go past Sanchez and then was brought down in the area by Eduardo Aguila and Sanchez, the referee gave Pumas a PK. After going to VAR, he changed the play to a free kick and a Yellow card for Sanchez. Off the ensuing free kick, Jordan Carrillo got off a great right footed shot past Sanchez to score and give Pumas the 2-0 lead. It was a great shot from Carrillo and although Sanchez got his hands on the ball, it was too strong for him to keep it out. San Luis subbed out Aldo Cruz for Lucas Esteves. Off a Corner kick, the cross was headed just wide by Flores. Martinez got off a left footed shot in the area that went just wide. It was the last play of the match as Pumas got another important victory in their great Clausura 2026.
Pumas got another key three points and now sit in 2nd place of the Clausura 2026. It’s a great season as Coach Efrain Juarez has surprised everyone by having the team fight for first place. Pumas didn’t have a great performance but was the better team on Friday night. The match had controversial moments like the Penalty Kick not given to Pumas until going to VAR but more so the play in the PK against Pumas that was later changed to a free kick. The telecast showed Horacio Elizondo, director of the referees, during the VAR ruling in the VAR room, something that isn’t allowed. Still the moment will be judged later as Pumas was the aggrieved team in the play, so it didn’t hurt the score. Pumas will now have a tough match at home against FC Juarez, a team that has given Pumas trouble at times in Estadio Olimpico Universitario. Worse yet would be tat both Keylor Navas and Adalberto Carrasquilla will miss the match because of Yellow card suspension. Still Pumas should be favorites for the match. Atletico San Luis will face off against struggling Santos but they will need a miracle to qualify to the Liguilla.
