In a dramatic playoff clash that had everything—goals, drama, and a red card—Pumas held on for a thrilling 3-3 draw against Club América, securing their spot in the semifinals. The aggregate score of 6-6 meant Pumas advanced on tiebreaker rules, despite not winning the series outright. It was a heart-stopping affair for fans, as Pumas squandered a commanding 3-0 lead and nearly lost it all on a late penalty.
The match began with Pumas in total control. Just minutes in, a corner kick fell to Adalberto Carrasquilla, whose volley struck the post before Rubén Duarte slammed the rebound past América goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota for the early 1-0 lead. Pumas doubled their advantage shortly after when Nathan rose highest to head home another corner, making it 2-0. América struggled to find their rhythm, but the real dagger came on a counterattack: Jordan Carrillo, the standout performer for Pumas all series, raced into the box and fired a clinical right-footed shot past Cota to make it 3-0 before halftime.
But América refused to go quietly. Early in the second half, a corner kick found Patricio Salas completely unmarked, and he headed home from close range to cut the deficit to 3-1. The momentum shifted dramatically. América pressed forward, and Erick Sánchez narrowly missed with a volley. Then came a moment of controversy: after a heated protest, Pumas assistant coach Luis Pérez was shown a red card, leaving the bench in turmoil.
América capitalized on the chaos. A cross into the box was met by a fierce volley that flew wide, but they kept pushing. With time running out, América pulled off a stunning comeback, scoring twice in the final minutes to level the match at 3-3. In stoppage time, they were awarded a penalty with a chance to win it outright—but the spot kick was saved, sparking wild celebrations from the Pumas faithful.
The result sends Pumas to the semifinals, where they'll face Pachuca, who eliminated defending champions Toluca. For América, it's a bitter end, but their fans can take pride in a fightback that nearly pulled off the impossible. As for Pumas, they'll need to tighten up defensively if they want to keep their championship dreams alive.