Pumas Secure Quarterfinal Spot in Concacaf Champions Cup With 1-1 Draw, 3-1 Aggregate Over Alajuelense

Pumas secured their advancement to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 1-1 draw against Alajuelense in the second leg of their round of 16 match at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. The aggregate score stood at 3-1 in favor of Pumas, who had won the first leg 2-0. The crucial equalizer was scored by Leonardo Suárez in the 73rd minute, a stunning volley that ensured Pumas' progression. Diego Campos had earlier given Alajuelense the lead with a remarkable free-kick goal in the 39th minute. Pumas' coach Efraín Juárez made a key substitution, bringing on Suárez, who had recently recovered from a knee operation, in place of Ignacio Pussetto. Pumas goalkeeper Alex Padilla was unable to stop Campos' free-kick, while Alajuelense's goalkeeper Washington Ortega could not prevent Suárez's volley from finding the net. Pumas will now face Vancouver Whitecaps in the quarterfinals, following the Canadian team's elimination of Monterrey in the previous round. Alajuelense's Joel Campbell, a former Rayados player, was unable to help his team overcome the deficit.