Redemption night for Pumas’ players as they defeat Mazatlan

Pumas got a great away result by defeating Mazatlan by a 4-1 score. The scoreline flattered Pumas in what was a more even match than the score suggested although Pumas was the better side. Pumas got a very important victory that climbs them up to 8th place just before the return home to face a tough match up against Tigres while Mazatlan stay at home where they will face a must win match against Atlas.

The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with Aaron Ramsey from the start while Adalberto Carrasquilla was on the bench after his trip to play with Panama’s National team in the World Cup qualifiers. Pedro Vite and Alvaro Angulo, who also traveled for World Cup Qualifiers, were also on the bench. After getting into the area, Nicolas Benedetti got off a right footed shot from close range that was saved by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. A cross into the area where Guillermo Martinez got pushed by Facundo Almada which led to a Penalty Kick foul called against Mazatlan. Guillermo Martinez took the PK and his left footed shot went past Mazatlan’s goalkeeper, Ricardo Gutierrez and into the net to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. It was an emotional moment for Martinez, who had a couple of bad miss and had a lot of pressure from Pumas’ fans. A free kick into the area was dangerously close to reaching Mazatlan attackers but Navas was able to get to it with some trouble. Omar Moreno got the ball in the area and got off a right footed shot that was well saved by Navas. A cross from Bryan Colula came close to going in, going just over the bar. A great counter ended with Jorge Ruvalcaba getting past the goalkeeper, running out of space but his cross would be volleyed by Martinez and yet Gutierrez made a great save but the play was incorrectly ruled as offside. After getting the ball in the area, Ruvalcaba got past a defender but his right footed shot went well wide. A left footed shot from outside the area from Mauro Zaleta would go just wide. After a good run from Ruvalcaba in the area, he would make a pass to a wide open Guillermo Martinez, who scored the tap in goal but it was ruled offside. After going to VAR, the play was overruled and the goal stood to give Pumas the 2-0 lead. From almost the halfway line, Ramsey got off a lobbed shot that forced Gutierrez to go back and make the save. A good combination play in the area, would allow Omar Moreno to get off a right footed shot from close range that went past Navas and into the net to score and place the match at 2-1. The goal made things interesting although the half would end with Pumas still having the lead.

The 2nd half started with Mazatlan subbing out Dudu Teodora for Edgar Barcenas. After making a run into the area, Benedetti looked to be dropped in the area by Nathan and a Penalty Kick was given to Mazatlan. Replays showed it was a dubious call but the call remained. Benedetti stepped up to take the PK but his right footed shot was blocked by Navas in a good save. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez and Aaron Ramsey for Alvaro Angulo and Adalberto Carrasquilla. A minute into the match, Angulo got to a longball and got off a cross that was just out of reach of Ruvalcaba. Off a counter, Mazatlan had a great chance when Barcenas found Jordan Sierra in the area who would then get off a left footed shot that went well wide in a bad miss. After winning a ball, Santiago Trigos found Angulo in the area but his left footed shot went well wide. A minute later, Angulo got into the area but his left footed shot from close range was blocked by a sliding Lucas Merolla. Mazatlan subbed out Sebastian Fierro and Omar Moreno for Anderson Duarte and Ivan Gonzalez. Once again Angulo got into the area and got off a left footed shot past Gutierrez but it hit the post. Barcenas would win the ball in the area but he got off a shot that would go wide. Pumas subbed out Jorge Ruvalcaba for Alan Medina. Mazatlan subbed out Jordan Sierra for Joaquin Esquivel. Less than a minute after getting in, Esquivel made a very bad tackle on Carrasquilla which earned him a red card. After going to VAR, the ref decided to change the red card to a Yellow card, saving Mazatlan. Pumas subbed out Guillermo Martinez for Jose Juan Macias. Mazatlan subbed out Mauro Zaleta for Mauro Lainez. After getting the ball in the area, Fabio Gomes got off a great volley from close range but Navas made a wonderful save. Carrasquilla got off a right footed shot that Gutierrez would tip to deflect it into the post. Eventually Macias would get the ball in the area but Gutierrez would get the ball off his feet. After injuring himself, Colula would have to leave the field, leaving his team with 10 players since they had no substitutions left. Off a free kick, a cross into the area was headed wide by Esquivel. Off a counter, Alan Medina would get off a great right footed shot from outside the area that would get past Gutierrez to score a great goal and give Pumas the 3-1 lead. It looked like the goal that killed the match with Mazatlan needing two goals to tie the match and having one player less. Off a counter attack, Pumas went on a 3 vs 3 that ended into a right footed shot from Macias that went wide. Replays showed that before getting the pass to Macias, Angulo had lobbed the ball and it was handled by a Mazatlan defender. After going to VAR, the ref decided to give a PK to Pumas. Jose Juan Macias took the PK and got off a great right footed shot past Gutierrez to score and give Pumas the 4-1 lead. It was the final play of the match as Pumas took a great results with all the three points back to Mexico City.

It was a night of redemption for Pumas and their players. First it was Guillermo Martinez who got two goals after having a terrible 2025 Apertura prior to Friday night, with only one goal and two incredible bad misses in games where Pumas failed to get the victory because of them. Then it was Alan Medina, who came to Pumas with a lot of doubts from fans after not gaining a starting spot in Queretaro. And finally the most notable with Jose Juan Macias scoring a goal after injuries had the majority of fans thinking he had retired from football because of a number of key injuries that sabotage his time in Chivas and Santos Laguna. It’s great news for Pumas that they were able to get goals from so many players who were struggling in and out. Pumas not only got a key victory but the boost to the players would turn the tide in the momentum of the season. They will have a tough task for their next match when they face off against Liga MX title candidate, Tigres, even if the match is at home. Meanwhile after a good start to their season are once again struggling and will need to win their next match at home against Atlas or face another non Liguilla season.

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