Pumas hold on for dear life to defeat Tigres

Pumas was able to get their first victory over Tigres in Monterrey since 2014 by beating them with a 1-0 score. Pumas played a very good first half but were completely dominated but were able to get the three points by going all out defensive and getting their victory in one of the stadiums where they struggle the most. Pumas will now return home where they will face off against Leon while Tigres remains at home where they will face off against the team who just defeated them in the last Liga MX Final and who currently sit in first place, Toluca.

The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with new addition Robert Morales from the start. Tigres had key figures missing from the starting 11 like Angel Correa and Diego Lainez. A great thru pass from Alvaro Angulo would find Robert Morales but his shot was blocked by Tigres’ goalkeeper, Nahuel Guzman. The ball was left there were Morales would once again get off a shot that forced Guzman to make an even better save. Off a corner kick, Nicolas Ibañez would get a header that would go just wide. Off a longball, Jorge Ruvalcaba got on a possible 1 on 1 but his shot went well wide. A cross into the area was volleyed by Juan Brunetta but he failed to solidly connect and the ball was just left there to be cleared off. After a great move from Cesar Garza, he would get off a pass where Ruvalcaba would eventually leave the ball for Robert Morales, who got off a right footed shot past Guzman to score a great goal that gave Pumas the 1-0 lead. Off a good run, the ball was left for Brunetta, whose right footed shot in the area would go wide. Off a corner kick, Brunetta tried for an “Olimpico” that Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas looked to have saved but the ref ruled the ball had already gone out. Morales would tried to score a goal from the half line but Guzman would easily get to his lobbed shot. After getting the ball in the area, Jesus Rivas got a good chance but his shot went wide. After Brunetta made a wonderful move in the area, he got off a left footed shot that was brilliantly saved by Navas. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Romulo Zwarg as Tigres had dominated the match after getting scored on. Off a corner kick, Uriel Antuna would head the ball into the path of Joaquin but his close range volley was deflected wide. The halftime whistle blew as Pumas took their surprising lead to the halftime break.

The 2nd half started with Tigres subbing out Uriel Antuna and Osvaldo Rodriguez for Angel Correa and Diego Lainez. After getting the ball in the area, Correa got off a left footed shot that was deflected just wide. Off a corner kick, the ball was headed into the path of Correa, who from close range sent his shot wide in a bad miss that was incorrectly ruled to be offside. After getting into the area, Correa got off a cross that turned into a shot that Navas would save. Tigres subbed out Nicolas Ibañez for Andre Pierre Gignac. After a getting the ball outside the area, Brunetta got off a good right footed shot that forced Navas to make a good save. Joaquim would get a left footed shot that was saved by Navas. The ball would eventually be crossed into the area and Joaquim would once again get off a header that forced a wonderful save from Navas. Pumas subbed out Jorge Ruvalcaba for Alan Medina. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Joaquim. Tigres would sub out Marcelo Flores for Diego Sanchez. Sanchez would get the ball in the area where he got off a great shot that would be brilliantly saved by Navas although the referee incorrectly ruled that it hit the post. Correa got off a left footed shot that would go just wide. A cross into the area would find a wide open Correa, who from close range he would whiff on the ball and sent his shot wide in a terrible miss. Pumas would sub out Pedro Vite for Rodrigo Lopez. A bad clearance from Navas left the ball there for Fernando Gorriaran to get off a left footed shot that would be deflected wide. Pumas would sub out an injured Robert Morales for Juninho. Tigres subbed out Jose Sanchez Purata for Edgar Lopez. A shot from inside the area by Correa was deflected wide once again. A cross into the area was headed wide by Gignac. After kicking Lainez, Alvaro Angulo got a second Yellow card and thus a red that left Pumas with 10 players. After a ball in the area was kicked past Navas, Pablo Bennevendo would make a miraculous slide that would clear the ball before Joaquin could have an open net chance. Off a free kick, Gignac got off a right footed shot that was saved by Navas. The match would end after that and Pumas got a miracle result in a stadium that always gives them trouble.

Pumas pulled off the biggest upset so far in the just started 2026 Clausura season by defeating Tigres away, a place where they hadn’t won in more than a decade. A 2-1 victory on January 25th in 2014 was the last time Pumas had gotten a victory over Tigres and they did so again on Wednesday night. It wasn’t easy at all, as Pumas just held on in the 2nd half as Tigres completely dominated. Pumas had a good defensive match but they were extremely lucky especially on a bad miss from Angel Correa, who had a wide open chance from extremely close range but he whiffed on it. Pumas will now return home where they will hope to get their first victory of the year when they face off against Leon. Meanwhile Tigres will stay home where they will face off against the team that just defeated them in the Liga MX final in Toluca.