The Pachuca Tuzos of Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón will host the Pumas UNAM of Paraguayan Robert Morales on Thursday, confident of confirming their good momentum, in the semifinal of the Clausura 2026 Mexican soccer tournament.
In the first leg of the first round, the Tuzos, led by Argentine coach Esteban Solari, will be looking to impose their conditions in their stadium against an opponent that topped the regular phase and has just eliminated the Águilas del América.
Rondón leads Pachuca on fire
The duel seems evenly balanced.
Pachuca overcame champion Toluca in the quarterfinals and did so in style by showing great soccer, which they will try to confirm against the inspired Pumas.
With Rondón, Brazilian Kenedy, Ecuadorian Enner Valencia and Moroccan Oussama Idrissi, Pachuca has one of the most harmonious offenses in the championship.
Although they scored nine goals less than Pumas in the regular phase, they are going through an excellent moment, which they will confirm today.
Pumas eliminated America, the best team in the history of the league, but left doubts.
It did so because World Cup player Henry Martin missed a penalty kick for the Eagles in the final minutes.
Pumas bets on a draw
Backed down, after renouncing to the grit, one of the hallmarks of the team’s history, Pumas gambled on the result.
The strategy worked for them to reach the semifinal; however, against Pachuca, it is difficult for Pumas to play conservatively in this semifinal.
In the event of a tie in the series, which will close next Sunday at the Pumas’ stadium, the university team will qualify for the final.
In other words, coach Efraín Juárez’s team will be satisfied with a draw this Thursday.
However, he will not give up attacking with an offense led by Morales, Brazil’s Juninho and Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla.
Pachuca seeks revenge against Pumas
Pumas defeated the Tuzos on the 17th day of the championship in the regular phase, in a match in which Pachuca had two players sent off.
One of them in the sixth minute.
It was the only setback for Solari’s team at their home stadium.
Now the Argentinean intends to take away his rival’s undefeated record in other stadiums.
And to confirm their good soccer on Sunday, which promises an attractive series.
The matchup appears evenly balanced
QuéOnnda.com
The winner will qualify for the final, in which it will face the winner of the series between the Chivas of Guadalajara of Argentine coach Gabriel Milito and the Cruz Azul of Colombians Kevin Mier and Willer Ditta.
With information from EFE
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