Queretaro's Gallos Blancos surprised FC Juarez 1-2 to ignite the rest of the The final matchday of the 2025 Apertura tournament saw the border squad sent to the Play-In, helping Chivas qualify directly for the playoffs and also putting Pumas UNAM on the brink of elimination. This result was undoubtedly unexpected, as a draw against Cruz Azul at the Cuauhtemoc Stadium on Saturday would have been enough for Pumas, managed by Efrain Juarez. Now, they must go all out for the win to avoid elimination against an opponent seeking for the top spot. Furthermore, Queretaro's victory, with goals from Ali Avila in the 11th minute and an own goal by Colombian Moises Castillo, complicates matters for Santos Laguna. They not only need to defeat Pachuca, but also hope that Pumas draw or are defeated by Cruz Azul to eliminate Queretaro on goal difference. For now, Queretaro's three points put both Pumas and Santos Laguna in trouble, while with Queretaro's victory, Chivas will enter the playoffs directly as the sixth-place team in what has been a very profitable tournament for the squad managed by Argentine Gabriel Milito. For this reason, the victory of the team managed by Benjamin Mora generated total significance, as it suddenly changed the outlook for Pumas and gave Chivas an unexpected boost, placing them directly in the final stage as one of the main contenders for the tournament title. The Match: The Gallos Blancos, managed by Benjamin Mora, delivered a dream first half, displaying a style they hadn't shown in a long time, and which, aided by the lack of effort from Bravos, allowed the visiting team to take an early lead.

It was precisely in the 12th minute that Ali Avila managed to finish off a cross from the left at the far post, taking advantage of the complacency of the home team's defense. This allowed the Argentine Angel Rodriguez to enter the area on the left side and send a cross to the far post for Avila, who finished the move and put the ball in the net, surprising goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado.

In the midst of Juarez's lethargy, in the 21st minute,Jaime Gomez was allowed to enter the area and reach the end line, where he sent a cross to the other side of the six-yard box. There, the Colombian defender Moises Castillo, in his attempt to clear, ended up heading the ball into his own net, surprising his own goalkeeper, as there was no opponent pressing them—a serious error.

In the second half, FC Juarez reacted and went all out on the attack. In the 57th minute, from a corner kick, the Colombian Diego Valoyes managed to head the ball between a sea of ????legs to nestle the ball into the net, leaving goalkeeper Guillermo Allison helpless to prevent the disaster in his goal. That was all, as the squad managed by Uruguayan Martin Varini couldn't recover from the first 45 minutes lost and had to swallow the painful and costly defeat that knocked them out of the direct playoffs. Now they will have to play in the play-in tournament to fight for one of the eight tickets to the championship. The team managed by Uruguayan Martin Varini couldn't recover from the first 45 minutes lost and had to endure a painful and costly defeat that knocked them out of the direct playoffs. Now they will have to play in the play-in tournament to fight for one of the eight tickets to the championship. The team managed by Uruguayan Martin Varini couldn't recover from the first 45 minutes lost and had to endure a painful and costly defeat that knocked them out of the direct playoffs. Now they will have to play in the play-in tournament to fight for one of the eight tickets to the championship.The team managed by Uruguayan Martin Varini couldn't recover from the first 45 minutes lost and had to endure a painful and costly defeat that knocked them out of the direct playoffs. Now they will have to play in the play-in tournament to fight for one of the eight tickets to the championship.The team managed by Uruguayan Martin Varini couldn't recover from the first 45 minutes lost and had to endure a painful and costly defeat that knocked them out of the direct playoffs. Now they will have to play in the play-in tournament to fight for one of the eight tickets to the championship.