The Pumas UNAM of Costa Rican Keylor Navas, former Real Madrid goalkeeper, will bet on stifling San Diego of the MLS today to try to achieve the miracle of reaching the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
After losing 4-1 last Tuesday in the first leg at their rival’s stadium, the Mexicans need a perfect game, no goals conceded and a 3-0 win or better to stay alive in the tournament.
From the university advantage to the San Diego rout
In the first leg, the Americans had a good first half, but lacked a goal.
It was coach Efraín Juárez’s Pumas who took the lead with a goal by Paraguayan Robert Morales.
The universitarios defended well until Ghana’s Manu Duah equalized in the 68th minute.
From that point on, San Diego took control of the game and scored goals from David Vazquez, Englishman Alex Mighten and Luca Bombino.
San Diego’s coach, Mikey Varas, acknowledged that the series is not decided and that they will have to take the second leg at the Estadio Universitario, 2,240 meters above sea level, seriously.
“We want to show that we can go to Mexico and win,” Varas said.
He will give orders to his players to be patient and wait for Pumas, who in their eagerness to attack, which they will be obliged to do, will leave spaces behind.
The tactical keys to the return
With an attack led by Anders Dreyer, one of the top three strikers in MLS in 2025, the Americans will be looking to do some damage.
If they score, they will have an away goal, something that will influence a tie-breaker in the event of a draw in the series.
Pumas has a competitive team with Navas as its star player.
Defenders of the quality of Spain’s Rubén Duarte and Brazil’s Natham Silva, with Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla and Ecuador’s Pedro Vite in midfield, and striker Morales.
The team will have to ensure a good defense and build forward from there.
The winner of the playoffs will face Toluca, seeded in the round of 16 as the Mexican soccer champion, in the round of 16.
Probable lineups
The Mexicans need a perfect match
QuéOnnda.com
Pumas UNAM: Keylor Navas; Jesús Rivas, Antonio Leone, Natham Silva, Rubén Duarte, Álvaro Ángulo; Jordan Carrillo, César Garza, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Pedro Vite; Robert Morales.
Coach: Efraín Juárez.
San Diego: Pablo Sisniega; Wilson Eisner, Christopher McVey, Manu Duan, Luca Bombino; Aníbal Godoy, Jeppe Tverskov, Pedro Soma; Anders Dreyer, Marcus Inguartse, Amahl Pelegrino.
Coach: Mikey Varas.
Referee: To be designated.
Time: 19:00 (01:00 GMT) / 21:00 (ET) / 18:00 (PT)
Stadium: Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, at 2,240 meters above sea level.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
