U.N.A.M. - Pumas
Pumas and Cruz Azul Battle to Electrifying 3-3 Liga MX Draw
UNAM Pumas and Cruz Azul delivered a Liga MX Apertura classic that finished 3-3 after a match that saw a red card, five yellow cards, and relentless momentum shifts at Estadio Olímpico Universitario.
Juninho ignited the pandemonium early, slotting home Carlos Huerta’s cross after just 10 minutes. Six minutes later, Huerta turned scorer, lashing Juninho’s lay-off past a stranded Sebastián Méndez to send the Pumas faithful into rapture. But chaos shadowed Huerta – booked in the 26th minute for a reckless lunge, then dismissed 11 minutes later after a second brutal challenge on Alan Palavecino.
Pumas Defy the Odds With 10 Men
Down to 10 men just before half-time, Pumas held their breath as Palavecino’s deflected effort beat Keylor Navas in stoppage time. Yet in a staggering show of defiance, substitute Ricardo Morales stunned Cruz Azul three minutes after the restart – the Liga MX giants now trailing 3-1 despite a 68% possession stranglehold.
Cruz Azul’s dominance finally told. Alejandro Montaño halved the deficit in the 64th minute before Chidera Ebere capped a sweeping move in the 85th minute, converting Nicolás Ibáñez’s cutback to complete the comeback. Neither side would yield, the woodwork rattled twice in stoppage time as Pumas clung on through sheer desperation.
What This Means for Both Clubs
Pumas’ 3-3 draw keeps them in mid-table safety, but Solari will demand defensive discipline after squandering a two-goal lead despite Huerta’s moment of madness. For Cruz Azul, the late escape papers over alarming cracks: just 6 shots on target from 30 attempts (1.8 expected goals underperformance) and a defense that hemorrhaged chances. The Apertura playoff race will test both teams’ nerve – only the strong survive in Mexico’s unforgiving cauldron.
Key Moments
10′ ⚽ U.N.A.M. – Pumas — Juninho (assist: C. S. Huerta Valera)
16′ ⚽ U.N.A.M. – Pumas — C. S. Huerta Valera (assist: Juninho)
37′ 🟥 U.N.A.M. – Pumas — C. S. Huerta Valera sent off
45+3′ ⚽ Cruz Azul — A. Palavecino (assist: J. Rodarte)
