Pumas will play for its season on Sunday night at Ciudad Universitaria. After losing the first leg of the semifinal 1-0 to Pachuca, the university club must win by any score to reach the final.
Oussama Idrissi scored the only goal in the opening match, giving Pachuca the edge heading into the return leg. Pumas, which advanced to the semifinals after a 6-6 aggregate tie with Club América and moved on because it finished higher in the overall table, now has no margin for error.
The second leg is set for Sunday, May 17, at 21:00 hours in the United States and 19:00 hours in Mexico at Ciudad Universitaria. The timing adds pressure to a matchup that already carries the weight of a season decided by one goal.
Pumas reached this point as the leader of the regular phase, then survived a wild tie against Club América on aggregate before getting through on table position. Pachuca arrived after a more comfortable path, eliminating Deportivo Toluca FC 3-0 on aggregate before taking the first semifinal leg.
The return match is straightforward for Pumas: win and stay alive, or fall and see the campaign end at home. That makes the first whistle in Mexico City more than a formality. It is the start of a 90-minute elimination game.
Fans in Mexico can watch Pumas home games exclusively on Vix Premium, TUDN and Canal 5. In the United States, Mexican soccer matches are available on TUDN USA and Univisión.
For Pumas, the night turns on a simple task that has already grown complicated. One goal from Pachuca changed the tone of the semifinal, and now the home side must answer in front of its own crowd.
