America bounced back from trailing by a 3-1 score to grab a 3-3 tie in the first leg of their Quarterfinal series against Pumas. It was an exciting match with controversial moments which still leaves Pumas as going thru as America will need to win next week in Estadio Olimpico to be able to go thru to the Semifinals of the Clausura 2026.
The 1st half started with the news that Brian Rodriguez would not play because of injury. The America player had been named as a starter and had come out the team to the warm ups but he was injured. For Pumas, they had Uriel Antuna as well as Robert Morales and Juninho up top. After a mistake from America with a pass, the ball would get to Jordan Carrillo, who found Juninho just outside the area, and he would get off a right footed shot past America’s goalkeeper, Rodolfo Cota, for an early goal that gave Pumas the shock 1-0 lead. Off a counter, Carrillo got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. A cross into the area ended with a great combination play in which Patricio Salas would find Isaias Violante, who got off a left footed shot in the area past Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, to score and tie the match at 1-1. A cross into the area was headed wide by Alejandro Zendejas. From outside the area, Kevin Alvarez got off a right footed shot straight to Navas. From outside the area, Zendejas got off a great right footed shot that hit the post. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Alexis Gutierrez. From outside the area, Adalberto Carrasquilla got off a right footed shot that Cota saved. Alvarez would once again have a right footed shot from outside the area that Navas would easily save. A great chance for America came about when a bad clearance left the ball there for Cristian Borja, but he whiffed on his left footed shot. From outside the area, Carrillo got off a good right footed shot that Cota did a terrible shot in blocking, leaving the ball for Uriel Antuna to get to the rebound and get off a shot into the net that gave Pumas the 2-1 lead. Prior to the start of the counter, Rodrigo Lopez had been fouled by Rodrigo Dourado, which sent him flying into the leg of Borja, who was severely injured. He would have to be carted out of the match. Ramon Juarez would be subbed in to replace him. Off a corner kick that was failed to be cleared, the ball would fall to Miguel Vasquez, who was on the line and volleyed the ball wide, in a terrible miss. The halftime whistle blew as Pumas took their lead to the break.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a change during it. After getting past a defender, Jordan Carrillo would get off an incredible right footed shot from outside the area that went past Cota and into the net to score and give Pumas the 3-1 lead. It was a great goal although once again, Cota could have done better on the play. Zendejas got off another terrible left footed shot that went well wide. Pumas subbed out Juninho for Pablo Bennevendo. After a head clash between Alvaro Angulo and Sebastian Caceres, the America defender looked to have a head injury and needed medical attention. America subbed out Sebastian Caceres, Patricio Salas and Alexis Gutierrez for Thiago Espinosa, Henry Martin and Raphael Veiga. It was a controversial move as it already looked like Vasquez had gone out for Espinosa before an assistant from America realized that Caceres had to come out and pushed him to get back in. A cross into the area was headed wide by Juarez. Off a corner kick, there was a play where it looked like Dourado was brought down by Carrasquilla. After going to VAR, the referee gave America a Penalty Kick. Henry Martin took the PK and got off a right footed shot past Navas to score and place the match at 3-2. America subbed out Rodrigo Dourado and Erick Sanchez for Jonathan Dos Santos and Vinicius de Lima. Off a free kick, Pedro Vite got off a left footed that tried to surprise Cota but he did well. Off a free kick in the area, Martin would fall after the ball was failed to be clear and the referee gave another PK to America after he ruled that Nathan kicked him. Alejandro Zendejas took the PK and got off a left footed shot past Navas to score and tie the match at 3-3. Espinoza got off a great left footed shot but Navas made a great save. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez, Uriel Antuna and Jordan Carrillo for Jesus Rivas, Antonio Leone and Cesar Garza. A long ball that reached Morales would turn into a great chance when Cota tried to get to the ball and missed but Morales shot into the empty net went wide. A great pass from Carrasquilla allowed Angulo to get a wide open chance in the area but he got off a terrible left footed shot that went wide. From way outside the area, Lima got off a right footed shot that went well wide.The whistle blew and America bounced back to get a tie but Pumas still had the advantage with the result in the Quarterfinal series.
In an exiting match, Pumas gave up a great opportunity to kill their series against America after taking a 3-1 lead that looked to be terminal for the home sides. But two Penalty Kicks gave America the tie but it’s a result that still has Pumas going thru. There was more controversy when a substitution by America looked to have been done incorrectly. Pumas would later ask for a ruling to overturn the result and get a 3-0 victory but the league decided not to and only fined America. America will still have a tough task as they need to get a victory in the 2nd leg while Pumas only need to win. Pumas will have to improve on defense and show a better management as they were the superior side in the 1st half and up to the 3-1 lead but started to falter and when America tied, they had regained possession. The controversial effort from Pumas to get the victory thru the strange events during the 2nd half substitution will add to the animosity for Sunday’s match. While Pumas is the favorite, it will be tough and it will not be surprising at all if America pulls off the upset.