Pumas fell 2-1 to Cavalry FC in their Concachampions debut and will need to mount a comeback at CU on February 13 to advance to the next round.
Pumas UNAM had a cold reception in Canada, as they suffered a 2-1 comeback defeat against Cavalry FC in their opening match of the Concacaf Champions Cup, formerly known as the Concachampions. Now, they will have to turn things around in the return leg at CU if they hope to move forward in the tournament.
Pumas Took the Lead
At Westhills Stadium, the university squad fielded a relatively alternate lineup, a decision that raised some eyebrows. However, this match also marked the debut of goalkeeper Alex Padilla, who recently arrived from Athletic Club to reinforce the Auriazul goal.
The Mexican team found the net in the 44th minute when Piero Quispe unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box. The Cavalry goalkeeper managed to stop it but left a rebound that Santiago López capitalized on, slotting the ball into the net.
Cavalry Turned It Around
In the second half, Pumas’ defensive weaknesses became evident. Off a corner kick, Charlie Trafford positioned himself near the six-yard box and, with no Pumas defenders marking him, struck the ball high to beat Padilla and level the match at 1-1.
In the 80th minute, Ali Musse delivered a cross to the far post, where Jay Herdman headed it back into the area. Tobias Warschewski controlled the ball with his back to goal, executed a brilliant turn, and fired a precise shot to complete a stunning goal, sealing a 2-1 victory for the home side.
Now, Pumas will have to give it their all on Thursday, February 13, when they host the Canadian team in Mexico City. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Before that, they will take on Mazatlán this Sunday, February 9, at 6:00 p.m.
