Club América vs Pumas: summary: score, goals, highlights | Copa Sky

Pumas convince in Clasico Capitalino win

Two goals in either half were enough for Rafa Puente's side to outmuscle Club America with a 16th minute effort from Del Prete before Rodriguez sealed the win with a shot/cross in added time.

Pumas now turn their attention to the 2023 Clausura and home game against Juarez on 8 January.

Necaxa are still not out of the running and can take boost their chances with a win over Toluca bit everything points to Group winners being either America or Cruz Azul.

Pumas go top

With theor 2-0 win tonight over America, Pumas now Top Group A with Cruz Azul set to face the azulcrema side in the last game of the group.

That's it... Pumas secure the win 

A cross or shot from Rodriguez? You decide from this angle ... difficult one to call

Rodriguez scores from a break... was it a cross or effort on goal? Pumas fans don't care as they have wrapped up the game  

Goooooool.

Pumas make it 0-2

Last minute of the contest and it looks like that the three points are heading to the university side. 

Despite America's pressure in the second half, the azulcremas have created little of real danger.

Six minutes of time to be added.

Another America corner, for the umpteenth time tonight the Pumas defenders clear the danger with ease.

De Olivera carded for a rash challenge...first of the night from referee Caceres.

Another wave of Pumas subs

Best chance of the second half falls to Rodriguez and Oscar Jimenez is level to the challenge and saves well. Despite America's onslaught and dominance in possession, it's Pumas who have carved out the better scoring chances. 

Despite these waves of pressure from America, the Pumas defence seems to be level to the challenge and managing to clear each burst of pressure.

Nice work from Damm as he almost finds a teammate in the box... America turning up the heat now as we head into the final ten minutes of action.

Free for America after an infantil shove from a Pumas defender. Juarez almost nods home and the keeper spills but the side in white manages to clear the danger.

More changes for America

Time running out for America and the game has become a little disjointed now with the many changes presented by both sides.

More changes for Pumas

Both Pumas and America start their 2023 Clausura campaign in early January with the azulcremas at home to Queretaro as Pumas take on Juarez on 8 January.

Should the scoreline remain as it is, Pumas would draw level with Cruz Azul at the top of Group A on 5 points. 

Both sides would have a +1 goal difference with Cruz Azul still to play America in the final game of the group.

Four switches for America

Change for Pumas

Dangerous free for Pumas as Orquin clips Toto and the men in white are presented with a great chance....

Poor strike from Aldrete who blazes the ball high and over the America bar.

First chance of the second 45' for Pumas and the ball takes a deflection on its path to goal as the home fans ramp up the noise.

America break but once again Valdez and Fidalgo fail to generate that accuracy and the move breaks down.

Dangerous free for America on the edge of the box as Valdez is clipped. 

The Paraguayan himself is over the ball.....the America striker opts to go low but the Pumas wall does its job well.

America caught on the break and despite a numerical advantage, a poor ball breaks things down for Pumas.

America pressing at the start of this second half and Pumas rear guard having to clear the danger twice in quick sucession. 

No changes at the break.

Off we go... Pumas start the second 45'.

Both teams are back on the pitch and we're just moments away from the second half starting...

Next up in Group A later tonight is the clash between Toluca and Necaxa. The Red Devils are out of contention for a top spot but Necaxa need a win to keep their hopes alive.

Pumas lead at the break

The 16th minute chip from Del Prete good enough for Pumas to hold a narrow 0-1 lead at half-time.

A bright game at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario with Pumas just shading things in the first half and had the finishing been just that little bit sharper from both sides we could be looking at a higher scoreline rather than the current 0-1 that we have. 

Salvio and Del Prete loom excellent for Pumas and should things stay as they are, the university side would top Group A having played all four games.

Mr Caceres, today's match official calls time on the half and it's Pumas who lead 0-1 at the interval.

We'll have just 2 minutes of added time here in Mexico City.

A dangerous ball is whipped in and Valdez just fails to latch on to the cross and the Paraguayan should have found the target from close range.

Fast approaching the 45 minute mark as subs from both sides start to warm up...inevitable that we'll see a series of changes from both teams ahead of the second half.

Freire strikes from the edge of the box and fails to get any direction on his strike and the ball is easy for Oscar Jimenez to gather.

America go close as Suarez almost steers the ball into the corner of the net and Julio Gonzalez does well and gets down to avert the danger pushing the ball wide.

Past the half hour mark and Pumas still good value for their 1-0 lead. 

Salvio is presented with a great chance but this time the Argentine striker blazes the ball over as the America defence switch off and to be fair, the former Boca Juniors man should hit the target.

Pumas now forced to defend deep as America now start to dominate proceedings as the university side sit deep.

The noise levels from the home fans (Pumas) has been excellent despite a modest showing of fans tonight at the Olimpico Universatario.

Possession as we approach the 25th minute mark:

America 40-60 Pumas (%)

Twenty minutes of the game gone and you could be deceived for thinking that this is a competitive game with players from both sides giving 100%.

Bright start from Pumas and just when it seemed that the 'Azulcremas' were back in the game up stepped Del Prete to chip the opening goal of the night.

What a sublime finish from Del Prete.... a delightful chip over the America keeper and the Argentine has Pumas ahead

For those wondering where Dani Alves is tonight... the Brazilian defender is expected to report back with Pumas next week ahead of the 2023 Clausura which gets underway on 6 January. 

Viñas almost finds the corner of the net as Pumas are clumsy in defence (not for the first time tonight) as the Uruguayan picks up the ball on the edge of the box.

Valdes offers the first danger of the night from America as he latches well onto a cross ball but he volleys into the ground and the ball drifts wide.

Once again, Pumas threaten and Oscar Jimenez is called upon to avert the danger as he parrys a fierce effort from Salvio. 

Pumas sing the club anthem pre-game

Pumas almost find the net with a decent effort from Salvio and the Argentine's effort goes inches wide.

Despite being a pre-season game, no prisoners are being taken with robust tackles flying in from both sides. 

A bright start from Pumas with Rafa Puente's men looking to spring an early surprise against America.

Off we go in the south of the Mexican capital.....

Decent noise levels being generated by the Pumas fans (tonight's game is being staged at the home of the university side despite America featuring first in the fixture list.)

Pumas in their classic white kit with gold and blue trims.

America tonight will use their blue away kit.

The sides are on the pitch... Pumas with their traditional raised fist gesture ahead of the game.

Pumas opting for a 4-4-2 formation tonight with Del Prete and Dinneno up front for Rafa Puente's side.

Pumas willn face Los Bravos in matchday 1 of the 2023 Clasusura.

All set at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario

A modest showing of fans tonight for this pre-season tournament with approximately 5,000 fans present to see America face Pumas.

​​​​​​​Kick-off now just minutes away.

America-Pumas: CDMX weather

It's an overcast evening in the Mexican capital this evening with a temperature of 20C/71F at kick-off with overcast skies but rain unlikely during the contest.

Recent meetings

Pumas hold the upper hand in recent meetings against their CDMX neighbours winning two of the last five games with America recording one win and two of the past five contests ending in a draw.

Club America XI confirmed

The Aguilas opt for an experimental side with Aquino back in the starting line-up despite being sent off in the last game. Orquin and Blanco, both youth team players get a start in tonight's test at the Olimpico Universitario,

Team news: Pumas

Pumas are the first of the two sides to confirm their starting XI with No. 9 for the university side Juan Ignacio Dinenno our player to watch this evening.

Copa Sky participants

These are the ten sides participating in the Copa Sky. 

Chivas, with three wins from three have already secured top spot in Group B and will play in the final with top ranking in Group A still to be decided,.

The Pumas dressing room

Pumas will be in their white shirts tonight for the Copa Sky clash against Club America in the pre-season Clasico Capitalino.

Game Day 3 for Aguilas in the Copa Sky

A win would boost America's chances of topping Group A with their final game coming up against Cruz Azul on the 27th of December with the final group game set to be decisive as to who faces Chivas in the final of the Copa Sky.

América are unbeaten in this competition with two wins from two and go into the match after confirming the departure of Guillermo Ochoa who moves to Salernitana in Italy. Keeper Luis Malagón has just joined the Aguilas from Necaxa and will compete for the No. 1 spot with Óscar Jiménez.

America will also be incentivised with Chivas waiting the winner of this Group A in the Copa Sky final after the Guadalajara side completed a third successive win to sew up Group B with a 2-1 win over Tigres on Thursday.​​​​​​​

Rafael Puente’s Pumas side started their Copa Sky campaign with a draw against Toluca, a narrow 2-1 defeat to Cruz Azul and on matchday three of four and were tied 0-0 against Necaxa in a game that saw Andrés Lillini back in action.

Copa Sky Group A

America are the only side to have played 2 games and they lie in second place after a win and a draw. 

Pumas conclude their Copa Sky activity tonight and need a win to hold any slender chance of advancing in the tournament.

The action gets underway at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario with a 7:00 pm local time start or 8:00 pm (ET) and 02:00 CET (the following day).

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Copa Sky game as Club America face Pumas with the mini-tournament serving as ideal preparation ahead of the 2923 Clausura.