The Tuzos de Pachuca showcased their resilience by coming back from behind to defeat Club Puebla 2-1 at the Estadio Hidalgo during the Liga MX Clausura 2025 season on February 26, 2025. After falling behind early, Pachuca's determination shone through as they regained their footing and secured the much-needed victory.
Puebla stunned the home crowd just six minutes after kickoff when Ricardo Marín unleashed a stunning shot from outside the box, which found its way to the top left corner of the net, putting his team on the scoreboard first. The goal, described by many as remarkable, came from great teamwork as Marín capitalized on the chances created by his teammates, reflecting the visitors' initial intent to control the match.
The early goal heightened the tension, with both teams having their share of opportunities to increase their tallies as the match unfolded. Despite their slow start, Pachuca began to find their rhythm as the first half progressed. A noteworthy moment was when Oussama Idrissi almost equalized for Pachuca, only for Miguel Jiménez, Puebla's goalkeeper, to make a spectacular save, ensuring the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
The second half saw Pachuca’s strategy shift as they took more aggressive control and began pushing forward with determination. Their persistence finally paid off when John Kennedy, the Brazilian striker, scored the equalizer in the 67th minute. Capitalizing on Idrissi’s clever assist, Kennedy launched a powerful right-footed shot from within the penalty area, leveling the score at 1-1 amid cheers from the home supporters.
Just minutes later, the match took another dramatic twist when Puebla's Facundo Waller was shown a red card for violent conduct, headbutting Carlos Sánchez after losing possession. Initially only cautioned by the referee, the incident caught the attention of the VAR, who reviewed the play and prompted the official to send Waller off, leaving Puebla with ten men.
Seizing this advantage, Pachuca pressed hard and only ten minutes later managed to capitalize again. Kennedy found himself at the right place at the right time, scoring the second goal from close range after receiving another sharp pass. His quick decision-making and skillful strike completed his brace and effectively sealed the match at 2-1.
Following the goal, Pachuca continued to apply pressure, keeping Puebla on the defensive as they sought to extend their lead. Jiménez, Puebla's keeper, was called upon several times to maintain the scoreline, yet his efforts were not enough to counteract Pachuca's barrage of attacks. Several additional chances to increase their lead went begging for Pachuca, much to the relief of the visitors as the final whistle approached.
When the referee blew the final whistle, Pachuca celebrated their comeback victory, which not only boosted their points tally to 16 but also moved them up to the sixth place on the league table. On the other hand, Puebla found themselves languishing at the thirteenth position with just eight points, mourning the missed opportunity to secure valuable points. The loss prompted criticism of their head coach, Pablo Guede, for failing to manage the match effectively after taking the early lead.
With this win under their belt, Pachuca aims to build momentum as they head to their next match against Juárez FC, hoping to continue their ascent up the standings as the season progresses.