Pachuca strike first with win over Pumas

PACHUCA, MEXICO - MAY 14: Oussama Idrissi of Pachuca celebrates after scoring the first goal of his team during the semifinals first leg match between Pachuca and Pumas UNAM as part of the Torneo Clausura 2026 Liga MX at Hidalgo Stadium on May 14, 2026 in Pachuca, Mexico. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images Pachuca defeated Pumas by a 1-0 score in the first leg of their semifinals series. Pachuca was clearly the better team over a lackluster Pumas, who now need to win on Sunday to be able to make it to the Liga MX final.

In a very exciting Liguilla, the match between Pachuca and Pumas failed to live to that level of play. Pumas would go thru with a win by any score on Sunday but a tie would give the ticket to the Liga MX final to Pachuca. The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with a more defensive squad, including not starting Juninho.

Adalberto Carrasquilla took a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Enner Valencia got into the area, went past a defender and got off a right footed shot that was blocked by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. A cross into the area was brilliantly lowered by Kennedy but his left footed shot went weakly right to Navas.

A cross from Ousssama Idrissi turned into a shot that was saved by Navas. Use again, Idrissi got off a right footed cross that turned into a shot that Navas had to stop. While Pachuca’s early dominance ended, Pumas didn’t improve and didn’t create any chances.