Stunning Toluca comeback shatters Pumas’ perfect start

Pumas’ unbeaten run came to an end in Week 9, undone by a Toluca side with a killer instinct. Despite taking the lead early in the second half, Efraín Juárez’s team could not hold on as the visitors overturned the deficit in hostile territory. With the result, the defending champions are now the only team yet to taste defeat in the Clausura 2026.

Toluca controlled possession for much of the opening half, but the game swung dramatically in the 26th minute. Jordan Carrillo was waiting for a lofted pass inside the box when Luan García, clumsy in his approach, charged into him from behind. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Robert Morales stepped up and blasted his penalty into the top corner, beyond the reach of Hugo González, fulfilling the so-called “former player’s law.”

Missed chance, immediate punishment

In the 36th minute, Morales squandered a remarkable opportunity. Juninho had sliced through the defense from midfield, beating two opponents with pace before squaring the ball to the Paraguayan striker just two yards from goal. With the net completely unguarded, Morales astonishingly sent his effort into the stands.

Toluca responded instantly. The move ended at the feet of Alexis “Canelo” Angulo inside the area. With two sharp touches, he slipped past a double team and unleashed a thunderous strike that curled into the top right corner beyond Keylor Navas, leveling the game. As the saying goes, the goals you fail to score at one end often come back to haunt you.

Angulo restores hope

Although Toluca remained proactive after the break, Pumas struck in the 63rd minute. Álvaro Angulo capitalized on a loose ball following a corner, allowing it to run across his body before finding himself one-on-one with González and finishing like a natural striker through the goalkeeper’s legs.

With the hosts back in front, the Toluca bench reacted immediately, introducing Helinho – and the move paid off. In the 73rd minute, after a corner was partially cleared, Barbosa collected the ball outside the box and, with two touches to set himself, fired a right-footed missile into the back of the net to restore parity.

That was not enough for Antonio Mohamed’s side. Five minutes later, Helinho threaded a pass into the area for Gallardo, who delivered a precise cross for Paulinho. The Portuguese forward needed only a simple header to complete the comeback in Ciudad Universitaria.

Pumas could not muster a response. The team looked drained, while Toluca expertly managed the tempo in the closing minutes. The victory moved Toluca to within one point of the league leader, stripped Pumas of its unbeaten status and preserved its own, reinforcing its standing as the Clausura’s sole undefeated side. The dream of a third straight title grows stronger.

This weekend, Juárez’s squad must shake off the setback before visiting Necaxa. Toluca, meanwhile, will host Juárez in a matchup that on paper appears favorable for the red-and-white side.

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Pumas

• 1 Keylor Navas
• 7 Rodrigo López
• 6 Nathan
• 77 Álvaro Angulo
• 215 Angel Azuaje (91')
• 45 Pedro Vite (91')
• 28 Adalberto Carrasquilla
• 22 Alan Medina (74')
• 33 Jordan Carillo Rodriguez (56')
• 31 Robert Morales
• 23 Juninho
• Substitutes
• 2 Pablo Bennevendo
• 19 Jesús Rivas
• 9 Guillermo Martinez (74')
• 8 José Caicedo
• 14 César Garza (91')
• 5 Rubén Duarte (91')
• 181 Miguel Paul
• 21 Carlos Antuna (56')
• 24 Antonio Leone
• 193 Dennis Ramírez

Toluca

• 1 Hugo González
• 6 Federico Pereira
• 13 Luan Garcia (62')
• 4 Bruno Méndez
• 20 Jesús Gallardo
• 2 Diego Zaragoza
• 10 Jesús Angulo (81')
• 15 Pável Pérez
• 5 Franco Romero
• 29 Jorge Díaz (76')
• 26 Paulinho
• Substitutes
• 17 Mauricio Isais
• 8 Nicolás Castro (76')
• 22 Luis Garcia
• 11 Hélio Júnio (62')
• 7 Francisco Córdova
• 187 Francisco Pumpido
• 27 Franco Rossi
• 23 Oswaldo Virgen
• 24 Fernando Arce
• 3 Briseño (81')

Substitutions

Uriel Antuna (56', Jordán Carrillo), Helinho (62', Luan), Guillermo Martínez (74', Alan Medina), Nicolás Castro (76', Jorge Díaz), Antonio Briseño (81', Jesús Angulo), Rubén Duarte (91', Angel Azuaje), César Garza (91', Pedro Vite)

Goals

1-0, 28': Robert Morales, 1-1, 36': Jesús Angulo, 2-1, 62': Álvaro Angulo, 2-2, 72': Diego Zaragoza, 2-3, 77': Paulinho

Cards

Referee: Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava
Jesús Angulo (37',Yellow)

Standings

Standings	Pts.	P	W	D	L
3 GDL	18	8	6	0	2
4 PAC	17	9	5	2	2
5 PUM	16	9	4	4	1
6 TIG	13	8	4	1	3
7 ATL	13	8	4	1	3

Standings	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 CZA	22	9	7	1	1
2 TOL	21	9	6	3	0
3 GDL	18	8	6	0	2
4 PAC	17	9	5	2	2
5 PUM	16	9	4	4	1