Liga MX Apertura - Play-In Semi-finals

CF Pachuca 3 - 1 FT U.N.A.M. - Pumas

Estadio Miguel Hidalgo

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
57
FT
Fri, Nov 21
Español
CF Pachuca
3-1
U.N.A.M. - Pumas
⚡ Intensity 53
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 0
Kenedy's clinical brace secures Pachuca's progression.

Pachuca's Clinical Edge Dismantles Pumas in Play-In Showdown

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 57/100. A masterclass in transitional efficiency saw the hosts advance, punishing their opponents' inability to capitalize on sustained possession.

The Opening Exchange

The knockout format guarantees tension, and the extreme Stakes of this Play-In semi-final were immediately apparent under the lights at Estadio Miguel Hidalgo. The visiting side settled into the contest quickly, exhibiting controlled possession as they looked to dictate the tempo through methodical passing phases. However, the hosts absorbed the pressure with a clear, ruthless tactical blueprint. The tactical stalemate broke in the 33rd minute when a rapid transition caught the visitors completely unbalanced. A perfectly weighted delivery from A. Bautista carved open the defensive line, allowing E. Valencia to slot home the opener. That breakthrough entirely shifted the dynamic of the tie, forcing the away side to abandon their cautious approach and commit bodies forward, inadvertently playing directly into the hands of a waiting counter-attacking machine.

The Turning Point

With the visitors overcommitting to find an equalizer, the match's Intensity spiked violently before the interval. Just seven minutes after breaking the deadlock, Valencia seamlessly transitioned from goalscorer to creator, slipping a sublime pass through to Kenedy, who doubled the advantage at the 40-minute mark. The halftime whistle offered no reprieve. Emerging from the tunnel with renewed vigor, the hosts struck again in the 55th minute to essentially kill the contest. O. Idrissi engineered the opportunity, teeing up Kenedy to secure his sensational brace. The underlying metrics highlighted an absurd level of clinical finishing from Pachuca; despite producing a highly modest expected goals tally, they were utterly merciless in the final third, punishing every single lapse in concentration with devastating efficiency.

The Final Whistle

Staring down the barrel of elimination, the U.N.A.M. - Pumas manager rolled the dice with aggressive substitutions to alter the game's Balance. The gamble initially paid dividends when P. Vite made an instant impact off the bench. Arriving precisely to meet a clever pass from J. Caicedo in the 65th minute, the substitute breathed brief life into the away sector. This sparked a frantic final quarter characterized by a barrage of corners and desperate attacking waves. Yet, the hosts showcased immense defensive resilience, navigating the late surge with composure to protect their cushion and seal the 3-1 victory. The final whistle confirmed their progression in the tournament, celebrating a pragmatic masterclass while leaving the visitors to reflect on their lack of end product.

Key Questions

What made Kenedy the Man of the Match?

He delivered a flawless performance, recording a clinical brace and three key passes to ruthlessly dismantle the opposition's defensive line.

How did substitute Kenedy change the game?

Although he actually started the match, Kenedy's dynamic presence completely shifted the momentum, turning limited attacking chances into a commanding and insurmountable lead.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
41%
59%
CF Pachuca 41%
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 59%
Shots
11
13
CF Pachuca 11
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 13
Shots on Target
5
5
CF Pachuca 5
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 5
Expected Goals (xG)
0.70
1.20
CF Pachuca 0.70
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 1.20
Passes
380
537
CF Pachuca 380
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 537
Pass Accuracy
84%
88%
CF Pachuca 84%
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 88%
Corners
4
7
CF Pachuca 4
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 7
Fouls
13
8
CF Pachuca 13
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 8
Yellow Cards
0
2
CF Pachuca 0
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 2
Red Cards
0
0
CF Pachuca 0
U.N.A.M. - Pumas 0

Match Events

33' E. Valencia (A. Bautista)
40' Kenedy (E. Valencia)
Pablo Monroy 🟨 45'+2
HT
S. Lopez A. Rico 🔄 46'
P. Monroy P. Vite 🔄 46'
55' Kenedy (O. Idrissi)
57' 🔄 E. Valencia J. Cadiz
58' 🔄 Kenedy A. Dominguez
A. Medina S. Trigos 🔄 63'
P. Vite (J. Caicedo) 65'
77' 🔄 O. Idrissi A. Contreras
77' 🔄 L. Quinones I. Luna
J. Caicedo E. Villasenor 🔄 84'
R. Lopez S. Garcia 🔄 84'
87' 🔄 A. Bautista W. Carvalho
Santiago Trigos 🟨 90'
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Pachuca

Goalkeepers
C. Moreno
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
B. A. Garcia Caprizo
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Eduardo Bauermann
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
S. D. Barreto
SWEEPER
SWEEPER
6
Cleanups
6
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
3
Blocks
A. Aceves
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
A. Bautista
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.7
Rating
P. Pedraza
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kenedy
HITMAN
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
3
On Target
10
Rating
L. Quinones
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
O. Idrissi
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
42%
Pass Acc
Forwards
E. Valencia
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
J. Eulogio
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Berlanga
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Sanchez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Contreras
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
V. Guzman
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Luna
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Carvalho
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
3
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Dominguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Togni
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Cadiz
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry

U.N.A.M. - Pumas

Goalkeepers
K. Navas
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
P. Bennevendo
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Nathan Silva
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
R. Duarte
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
69%
Pass Acc
A. Angulo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
A. Medina
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
J. Caicedo
MAGNET
MAGNET
80
Activity
80
Activity
74
Passes
6
Duels
R. Lopez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Forwards
P. Monroy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
S. Lopez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
J. Ruvalcaba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
P. Lara
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
A. Azuaje
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Villasenor
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Serralde
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Juarez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Trigos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Rico
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Vite
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
45
Minutes
7.6
Rating
S. Garcia
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
11/21/2025 Pachuca 3 - 1 U.N.A.M. - Pumas Liga MX Estadio Miguel Hidalgo
07/20/2025 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 3 Pachuca Liga MX Estadio Olímpico Universitario
02/17/2025 Pachuca 2 - 1 U.N.A.M. - Pumas Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
07/21/2024 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 0 Pachuca Liga MX Estadio Olímpico Universitario
05/03/2024 Pachuca 0 - 0 (PEN 3-5) U.N.A.M. - Pumas Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
01/28/2024 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 3 - 1 Pachuca Liga MX Estadio Olímpico Universitario
07/17/2023 Pachuca 1 - 1 U.N.A.M. - Pumas Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
03/19/2023 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 0 - 2 Pachuca Liga MX Estadio Olímpico de Universitario
07/25/2022 Pachuca 0 - 0 U.N.A.M. - Pumas Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
05/01/2022 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 0 Pachuca Liga MX Estadio Olímpico de Universitario
11/21/2025
Liga MX Estadio Miguel Hidalgo
07/20/2025
Liga MX Estadio Olímpico Universitario
02/17/2025
Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
07/21/2024
Liga MX Estadio Olímpico Universitario
05/03/2024
0 - 0 (PEN 3-5)
Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
01/28/2024
Liga MX Estadio Olímpico Universitario
07/17/2023
Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
03/19/2023
Liga MX Estadio Olímpico de Universitario
07/25/2022
Liga MX Estadio Hidalgo
05/01/2022
Liga MX Estadio Olímpico de Universitario
CF Pachuca Win
U.N.A.M. - Pumas Win
Draw