With that strange quality Cruz Azul has of self-destructing at key moments, they did the unthinkable, falling 2-3 to Pumas UNAM UNAM not only gifted the felines a spot in the Play-In, but also handed Toluca the overall lead for the title playoffs. Undoubtedly, these are inexplicable aspects that only the Cementeros possess in moments when they should supposedly be responding to their loyal fans with the same character that made them one of the four giants of Mexican soccer in the 1970s. This defeat also means that Cruz Azul will face the surprising Chivas in the playoffs, in the match between third and sixth place, a position that will remain unchanged and will be played in three weeks when the title playoffs can begin after the FIFA break. But now, at the Cuauhtemoc Stadium, they once again showed that they are far from the mystique of players like Marin, Quintano, Kaliman Guzman, and Wendy Mendizabal, among others, squandering a 2-1 lead they had built up in the second half. Coming from behind with two goals from Uruguayan Gabriel “Toro” Fernandez.

Because Argentinian Lorenzo Faravelli did the same thing as Kevin Mier in the previous tournament and Ignacio Rivero in the last game of the regular season of the previous tournament: getting himself sent off when Cruz Azul needed their full squad the most to withstand the UNAM onslaught in the second half.

But partly that, and partly because coach Nicolas Larcamon took too long to figure out how to control the way UNAM came at them and took the ball away from them, putting them closer to victory than defeat.

So, partly Cruz Azul's own mistakes and partly the terrible night of referee Fernando Hernandez, who, in collusion with international referee Cesar Ramos in the VAR booth, failed to identify Adalberto Carrasquilla's unfriendly tackle on Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier, which will require in-depth analysis to determine if the Panamanian didn't fracture his leg.But for both referees, it was merely a reckless action, without the need for a network card.

Because before this play,they also overlooked an aggression by Alvaro Angulo on Toro Fernandez, who arrived late and caught the Uruguayan's knee with his foot, but with a lenient approach and not adhering to the rules, they also let him continue in the match.

Meanwhile, Pumas UNAM did what they had to do: play with personality and overcome their mistakes with great character to get into the playoff round to seek the seventh and eighth spots in the playoffs for the title, after Toluca, Tigres, Cruz Azul, America, Monterrey, and Chivas already qualified directly.

Meanwhile, Xolos Tijuana, FC Juarez, Pachuca, and Pumas will seek the two available spots to mask a terrible season with a ticket to the final stage, which could make them the dark horses of the playoffs. final.

The match

The match lived up to expectations. Pumas started strong with a spectacular goal in the third minute, beating Kevin Mier with a volley in mid-air, striking the ball like a karate chop, putting their team ahead.

But then Cruz Azul began to respond after Pumas lost Jose Juan Macias to an injury that jeopardizes his career. It was thought that injuries were behind him, but now he faces possible surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

With this absence, Pumas had to cope with Cruz Azul's comeback. Gabriel Fernandez appeared at the perfect moment to tie the game 1-1 in the 14th minute, and four minutes later, Fernandez again found the net. Jeremy Marquez created a brilliant play with a screen, leaving Fernandez alone to finish and make it 2-1 in a spectacular comeback.

The Cementero Sabotage

The worst was yet to come for Cruz Azul in the second half. Not only had they lost Kevin Mier to injury, who very likely suffered a fibula fracture from Adalberto Carrasquilla's unfriendly tackle that the referee deemed worthy only of a yellow card, but Lorenzo Faravelli was also sent off, and with that, everything collapsed for the Cementeros.

In the 78th minute, Omar Campos arrived late to the play and committed a foul on Carrasquilla on the edge of the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Alvaro Angulo converted the penalty in the 79th minute to tie the game 2-2, and then secured the victory in the 85th minute with a header from Alan Medina on a flick-on at the far post, leaving Andres Gudino with no chance as he watched the ball sail into his net.