C.F. Pachuca secured a tight 1-0 victory over Pumas UNAM at the Estadio Hidalgo in the opening leg of the Clausura 2026 Liga MX Semifinals. Winger Oussama Idrissi broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, converting the only goal of a match heavily controlled by the home side from the opening whistle.
Pachuca dictated the early pace with an aggressive high press that stifled the visitors. Pumas entered the match carrying the heavy expectations of being the Clausura’s regular-season top seed, having narrowly advanced past Club América on table position. However, they struggled to generate offense against a Pachuca squad riding momentum from their dominant quarterfinal elimination of back-to-back champions Toluca.
The deficit could have been significantly worse for the Mexico City giants if not for the heroics of goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The veteran shot-stopper made several crucial, point-blank saves to keep the tie manageable heading into the second leg, most notably denying Robert Kenedy with a spectacular stop just five minutes into the game.
The narrow scoreline sets up a tense return leg, especially given the recent history between the two clubs. Pumas is desperately trying to break a 15-year league championship drought, but they must overcome a psychological hurdle. Just five months prior, Pachuca unceremoniously knocked Pumas out of the Apertura 2025 Play-In tournament on this exact same pitch, a match where Navas himself faced intense scrutiny for uncharacteristic errors. The series now shifts back to the Estadio OlÃmpico Universitario, where Pumas will need to find the back of the net to keep their title hopes alive.