Pachuca's Tuzos clearly defeated Pumas UNAM 3-1 with a brace from Brazilian Robert Kenedy to remain alive in the Play-In and await the loser of the other tie in this qualifying phase between Xolos vs. FC Juarez.

Pachuca took the lead with a goal from Ecuadorian Enner Valencia, and then Brazilian Robert Kenedy put them on the path to victory. Pumas made things a bit more difficult with a second-half goal from Ecuadorian Pedro Vite, which made the final score 3-1, ending Pumas' hopes that had been rekindled after Cruz Azul's victory in the last game of the regular season.

With the victory, Argentine Esteban Solari made a winning debut with the Hidalgo team, but they will now be without Ecuadorian Enner Valencia due to an apparent muscle injury.

The starting lineups for the match at the Hidalgo Stadium

The match kicks off, and here's a comparison of the goalscorers for both teams:

Esteban Solari faces a great challenge with Pachuca as they seek to reach the playoffs for the title

Esteban Solari, a familiar face at Pumas UNAM, makes his Liga MX managerial debut with Pachuca, taking over from Jaime Lozano to try and secure a playoff spot in the 2025 Opening tournament.

19th minute: Pumas are saved from Pachuca's first goal by a great save from Keylor Navas

23rd minute: Pumas create danger with a shot from Alan Medina that forces goalkeeper Carlos Moreno to make a crucial save.

32nd minute: Goal for Pachuca! A long-range shot from Ecuadorian Enner Valencia puts the Tuzos ahead of Pumas.

39th minute: Robert Kenedy Nunes makes it 2-0 with a tremendous shot from outside the box, from right to left, that finds the back of the Pumas net with the goalkeeper's helplessness. Keylor Navas, Costa Rican.

45+2 minute: Yellow card for Pablo Monroy of Pumas

45+3 minute:The first half ends with Pachuca leading Pumas 2-0 in the opening match of the Play-In Tournament at Estadio Hidalgo.Another view of Brazilian Enner Valencia's stunning goal over Pumas' Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas to open the scoring at 1-0. Was it a mistake by Keylor Navas or a brilliant goal by Robert Kenedy to put Pachuca ahead 2-0? Minute 45: The second half begins with Pumas trailing 2-0 to Pachuca in the Play-In Tournament at Estadio Hidalgo. The university team makes two changes, bringing on Ecuadorian Pedro Vite for Pablo Monroy and Angel Rico for Santiago Lopez.

54th minute: Goal by Robert Kenedy, who shoots inside the box to beat Keylor Navas with a shot to the near post, making it 3-0 and practically sealing the Play-In match against the loser of Xolos vs. FC Juarez.

64th minute: Goal for Pumas by Ecuadorian Pedro Vite to reduce the deficit against Pachuca to 3-1 and allow them to think about a heroic comeback in the remaining 25 minutes of the match.

The match ends with a 3-1 victory for Pachuca, eliminating Pumas UNAM, who arrived with high hopes of pulling off a major upset, but in the end, the weight of the tournament took them out of contention.