Pumas got a very important result after defeating Monterrey by a 2-0 score. In one of the most solid performances for Pumas in the Clausura 2026, they were the superior team and defeated one of the normal candidates for the Liga MX title. Pumas went back to claim the third place spot but will have a tough task next week when they travel away to Necaxa. Monterrey will return home to face off against second place Cruz Azul.
The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with Pumas coming out with Pedro Vite and Adalberto Carrasquilla as the new starting midfield pairing. A great thru pass found Sergio Canales in the area but incredibly he lost the ball after making a back pass instead of getting off a shot. A great cross into the area from Rodrigo Lopez would be wonderfully volleyed by Alvaro Angulo, past Monterrey’s goalkeeper, Luis Cardenas to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. A cross into the area was headed by Canales but easily saved by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. From way outside the area, Ricardo Chavez got off a great right footed shot that forced a good save from Navas. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area was headed from close range by Robert Morales but saved by Cardenas although he would then leave the ball there for Alvaro Angulo to get a left footed close range shot past Cardenas and into the roof of the net to score again and give Pumas the 2-0 lead. Monterrey subbed out the injured Fidel Ambriz for Roberto de la Rosa. A cross into the area was headed by De la Rosa and Navas struggled somewhat to make the save on the play. After making a run, Luca Orellano got off a left footed shot that went just wide. Luis Reyes got off a left footed shot from outside the area that was saved by Navas. A great pass from Carrasquilla allowed Juninho to go on a 1 vs 1 but his right footed shot was saved by Cardenas. Another counter ended with Jordan Carrillo getting off a right footed shot from outside the area that Cardenas made another great save on. Off the ensuing corner kick, Nathan would head the ball back but Carrasquilla would then get to the ball and incredibly head wide from extremely close range in a bad miss. A left footed shot from Canales from outside the area forced a great save from Navas. A cross into the area from Orellano would be headed by De la Rosa just wide. The halftime whistle blew ending a very lively half where the host team had been the clearly better side.
Advertisement
The 2nd half started with no changes in the halftime break. A cross into the area from Canales went just out of reach of Monterrey’s attackers. A cross into the area would find Uros Durdevic, whose right footed shot from close range would go wide. A right footed cross from Oliver Torres turned into a shot that was saved by Navas. Pumas subbed out Juninho for Uriel Antuna. A cross into the area was headed wide by Durdevic. Angulo would get off a left footed shot from outside the area that would go wide. Monterrey subbed out Ricardo Chavez and Luis Reyes for Erick Aguirre and Gerardo Arteaga. After a good combination play, Morales got off a right footed shot that went straight to Cardenas. Pumas subbed out Jordan Carrillo for Guillermo Martinez. Orellano got off a good left footed shot from outside the area that went just wide. Monterrey subbed out Iker Fimbres and Luca Orellano for Lucas Ocampos and Jesus Corona. A left footed shot in the area from Martinez was deflected wide. After a bad clearance from Cardenas left the ball there for Angulo, he would get off a bicycle kick that went wide when he had an open net chance. A cross into the area was headed wide by Ocampos. A header from inside the area by Durdevic would be saved by Navas. Pumas subbed out Robert Morales and Rodrigo Lopez for Jose Caicedo and Jesus Rivas. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Durdevic. The whistle blew and Pumas got a huge result that keeps them in the highest places of the standings.
Pumas got a great performance that led to their best result so far in the Clausura 2026. While their defeat of Tigres in Monterrey is a better result, it came from a very defensive performance in which Pumas got a goal against the run of play and went on defensive mode, holding on for dear life. On Sunday, Pumas was the better side and got the deserved win against one is one of the toughest squads on paper in Liga Mx. Still while Pumas was better, they had some troubling defensive spells that was hurt by a terrible performance in the final third for Monterrey’s attackers. Yet the win was more than deserved and now Pumas continues in third place in Liga MX, the the surprise of many, They will have a tough test next week when they travel north to face off against Necaxa. Monterrey will have an even tougher side at home against Cruz Azul, with rumors that a loss might spell the end of Domenic Torrent’s spell as coach of the team.
