Pumas come from behind to beat Puebla 2-3 and save Efrain Juarez's job
Pumas UNAM overcame their bipolarity to come back from a 2-0 deficit and defeat Puebla 3-2 to remain undefeated and move into second place in the tournament
Pumas UNAM showed their claws when they needed them most, after it seemed that Puebla would worsen their internal crisis that threatens Thanks to the continuity of coach Efrain Juarez, they managed to recover from a 0-2 deficit and end up winning 2-3, saving their coach's job. A victory drawn from the very depths of the university team's character, who in the first half seemed destined for failure when Puebla, with goals from Costa Rican Juan Vargas and Colombian Edgar Guerra, foreshadowed the worst for the Pumas. But they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and after the Puebla team missed a chance to score third goal through Uruguayan Emiliano Gomez, Pumas managed to reduce the opponent's deficit with a goal from Guillermo Martinez two minutes from the end. That goal was key for what followed in the second half, where Pumas managed to turn the score around with goals from Paraguayan Robert Morales and Brazilian Juninho in the final minutes, allowing the university team to maintain their undefeated record and move into second place. transitional to the tournament, but above all to keep coach Efrain Juarez in his position, who was on the chopping block due to the elimination in the Concacaf Champions League at the hands of San Diego FC.
The Match
The match had the excitement that represents the bipolarity of the Pumas. Because in the first half they allowed the Puebla team to take the lead with two goals scored by Juan Vargas and Edgar Guerra, the felines gradually shook off that setback to achieve a comeback that demonstrates the reality of a squad that has the potential for better football performances.
In this way, everything that Puebla did only lasted forty minutes, precisely when in the 43rd minute Memo Martinez reduced the deficit and set the team led by Efrain Juarez on the path to an almost miraculous recovery that took place in the second half.
After the first 20 minutes, The Puebla team began to create danger around the Pumas' goal and in the 29th minute they opened the scoring when Juan Pablo Vargas,A Costa Rican central defender, beat his compatriot Keylor Navas, the Pumas' goalkeeper, and, with his head, sent the ball into the back of the net.
In the 40th minute, Edgar Guerra scored on a counter-attack to make it 2-0, a scoreline that seemed insurmountable for Pumas, who were struggling to get going. But two minutes later, Memo Martinez finished off a cross from the right in the six-yard box to reduce the deficit before halftime.
This proved crucial in the second half, as they equalized in the 61st minute when Paraguayan Robert Morales converted a penalty after Nicolas Diaz fouled him, beating goalkeeper Ricardo Gutierrez with a powerful shot.
Just when it seemed destined for a draw, Pumas scored in the 88th minute when Uriel Antuna He reached the ball before breaking down the right flank and sent a cross to Juninho in the box. The Brazilian turned and fired a low shot across goal to secure a valuable victory.

