Rayados dispatches Pumas and secures the last spot in the 2025 Clausura Liguilla

Rayados de Monterrey secured their qualification for the 2025 Clausura Liguilla by beating Pumas 2-0 in the Play-In match played at the BBVA Stadium . With this result, the Monterrey team will face Toluca , the tournament's overall leader, in the Quarterfinals. The university team, meanwhile, was eliminated and ended its participation without reaching the final phase.

The match started at a slow pace with few clear chances. Pumas ' first chance came when Rogelio Funes Mori shot inside the box, but Esteban Andrada deflected the ball, though the play was ruled out for offside. Monterrey responded minutes later with a shot from Lucas Ocampos that required a good save from goalkeeper Alex Padilla .

For the second half, Martín Demichelis adjusted his game plan and decided to reinstate Sergio Canales , who returned to the field after more than a month of absence amid rumors of internal tensions with the Argentine coach. With Canales on the field, Monterrey gained clarity in the offensive zone.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Curry and Hield lead the Warriors to the Semifinals after beating the Rockets in Game 7

Pumas tried to take the initiative at the start of the second half. In the 49th minute, the capital team appealed for a penalty for an alleged foul by Stefan Medina on Funes Mori , but referee Adonai Escobedo decided not to award the penalty. The university team continued to press the attack, while the home side waited for the right moment to break the tie.

That moment came soon after. In the 58th minute, Canales broke through the center of the box and shot past Padilla , who made the save, but the rebound fell at the feet of Ocampos . The Argentine tried to finish, but his poor shot fell to Germán Berterame , who, unmarked, tapped the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

With the need to equalize, coach Efraín Juárez moved his pieces around, sending Ruvalcaba and Quispe onto the pitch in search of greater depth. However, the plan quickly fell apart. Ruvalcaba , who had come on as a substitute, was sent off in the 75th minute after receiving his second yellow card in less than ten minutes, leaving the Pumas with a man down.

With numerical superiority and the clock on their side, Monterrey controlled the pace and avoided risks. In the closing stages, the Rayados took advantage of the openings to seal the match. In the 89th minute, Nelson Deossa received a pass in the box and shot across the net to make it 2-0, against a visiting defense that was unable to react.

The win allows Monterrey to advance to the Liguilla, where they will face Toluca in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Pumas concludes their participation with a painful elimination and awaits their next project for the 2025 Apertura .

TOPICS