UNAM Pumas crushed FC Juarez by a 5-1 score in a match were they took advantage of terrible defending and made most of their opportunities created. After a terrible start to their Apertura 2026, Pumas had gotten two solid victories just prior to their Leagues Cup trip. Meanwhile FC Juarez lost their third match out of three and Coach Pedro Caixinha’s job is in jeopardy. After their matches in the Leagues Cup, Pumas will host Queretaro while FC Juarez will have a tough away match against Monterrey.
The 1st half started with both teams having solid starting 11. Sebastian Cordova got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went well wide. A cross into the area was lowered where Jairo Torres got off a right footed shot that went wide. After Juninho was dropped in the area going for a cross, the referee gave a Penalty Kick to Pumas. Juninho stepped up to take the PK and got off a right footed shot past Juarez’s goalkeeper, Sebastian Jurado, to give Pumas the early 1-0 lead. A cross into the area would be volleyed wide by Oscar Estupiñan. Off a counter, a great pass would find Juninho, who got off a right footed shot that would be deflected by Haret Ortega past Jurado to score and give Pumas the 2-0 lead. It was a lucky goal for Pumas as Juninho hadn’t gotten off the greatest shot and the deflection was key for it being a goal. Juarez subbed out Jesus Murillo for Monchu. A volley from Francisco Nevarez would turn into a shot that was easily saved by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. After making a good move, Uriel Antuna would get off a cross to a wide open Robert Morales, who headed the ball past Jurado to score and give Pumas the 3-0 lead. It was a great play by Antuna as Pumas was having a great day in the final third, getting a score that flattered their performance. After a great run into the area, Jose Luis Rodriguez would get past a defender and get off a right footed shot that was just out of reach of Navas, would hit the post and go in to score and place the match at 3-1. A cross into the area would reach Rodriguez but he incredibly tried to lob it to Estupiñan instead of going for a goal, and it would go well out of the reach of his teammate. The halftime whistle blew and Pumas took a commanding lead that maybe wasn’t as deserved for what was shown in the half.
The 2nd half started with no changes made during the break. Pumas tried to attack but while it looked like Juarez had stopped the play, Gilberto Sepulveda made an incredible dumb move that gave the ball to Juninho, who got past Jurado and then slotted the ball into the empty net to score and give Pumas the 4-1 lead. A cross into the area was headed by Ortega but Navas easily saved it. Juarez subbed out Haret Ortega for Ricardo Juarez. Antuna got the ball in the area but his left footed shot went well wide. FC Juarez subbed out Oscar Estupiñan, Denzell Garica and Jose Luis Rodriguez for Ettson Ayon, Luis Carmona and Raymundo Fulgencio. Pumas subbed out Sebastian Cordova and Juninho for Alan Medina and Adalberto Carrasquilla. Off a counter, Ayon got offf a great right footed shot that forced Navas to make a good save. Pumas subbed out Robert Morales and Uriel Antuna for Luciano Herrera and Guillermo Martinez. A cross into the area was brilliantly lowered by Carrasquilla, who then gave a great pass into the path of Guillermo Martinez, who got off a left footed shot past Jurado to score and give Pumas the 5-1 lead. Once again Pumas was clinical in their finishing. A cross into the area found a wide open Juarez but he got off a terrible volley that went well wide. From outside the area, Torres got off a left footed shot that went wide. Pumas subbed out Victor Arteaga for Santiago Trigos. The game started to get chippy, with a couple of fouls done by the frustrated Juarez. The match ended and Pumas had an incredible away victory to close out before traveling to the Leagues Cup.
After a terrible start with a bad loss at home against Pachuca, Pumas has gotten two solid away victories. Against current CONCACAF Champions, Toluca, they got a surprising 2-1 victory after bouncing back from a poor 1st half to get a great 2nd half. This time it was all Pumas as they constantly converted their created chances over an FC Juarez that was a nightmare defensively. Pumas has now inspired their fans that under new coach Esteban Solari, they might make a repeat or at least be a title contender after losing the Liga MX final in the Clausura 2026 with a last minute goal. FC Juarez made it three out of three negatively and Coach Pedro Caixinha will probably end his tenure at the helm prematurely. After their three Leagues Cup game they will have an extremely tough matchup when they travel south to face off against Monterrey. Pumas will return home to host surprising Queretaro.
