Pumas UNAM Triumphs 2-0 in Efrain Juarez’s Debut Against Alajuelense

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, 4 mar (Reuters) – Pumas UNAM secured a 2-0 victory over Alajuelense from Costa Rica on Tuesday in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, marking the inaugural match for new head coach Efraín Juárez.

Juárez, who previously won a championship with Pumas during the 2009 Clausura Mexican tournament, was appointed head coach on Sunday, replacing Argentine Gustavo Lema.

“We had a compact team in both lines against a squad that plays good football, and I leave very happy; this is step-by-step. It’s like a train that needs oil, gas, and coal. Returning home like this is a dream. I want our fans to feel proud and identify with Pumas,” Juárez expressed during a press conference after the match.

The match took place at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. Pumas took the lead at the 38-minute mark when Uruguayan Robert Ergas capitalized on a pass from Alfonso Monroy to shoot from inside the box.

Argentinian naturalized Mexican Rogelio Funes Mori doubled the lead for Pumas with a header in the 73rd minute following a cross from Panamanian Adalberto Carrasquilla. The deciding match for the series is scheduled for March 13 at Estadio Alejandro Moreira Soto.

“The least of my concerns are the results because they are a consequence of the work. What I want is for my team to play good football. We expect a hostile environment in Costa Rica, and our strategy won’t change,” Juárez added.

In another matchup of the Round of 16, Cincinnati from Major League Soccer tied 1-1 with Tigres UANL in the debut of Argentinian naturalized Mexican coach Guido Pizarro, who was appointed just hours after the unexpected dismissal of Serbian coach Veljko Paunovic.

Pizarro noted, “Honestly, with good feelings, in these two training sessions, the intention to play changed, and I greatly appreciated that we tried to play. The match provided us valuable information on what we need to improve to keep building.”

The match between Cincinnati and Tigres was held at TQL Stadium, where the home team took an early lead just three minutes in with a goal from Czech Pavel Bucha, who scored from a tight angle after receiving a pass from Togolese Ahoueke Denkey. Tigres equalized in the 17th minute through Argentine Nicolás Ibáñez, who scored from inside the box after a cross from Sebastián Córdova. The second leg is set for March 11 at the Estadio Universitario, home of Tigres.

Los Angeles FC triumphed over Columbus Crew with a commanding 3-0 win, featuring two goals from Frenchman Denis Bouanga and another from Nathan Ordaz. This match will also be resolved on March 11.

On Wednesday, upcoming matches feature Mexican teams Guadalajara and América, Costa Rica’s Herediano hosting LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada facing Mexican Monterrey, and Cruz Azul visiting Seattle Sounders. Also, on Thursday, Inter Miami will take on Cavalier from Jamaica.

The competition’s champion will qualify for the 2025 Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.

This debut for Efraín Juárez as Pumas’ head coach was well-received as his team regained confidence following a string of four consecutive losses in the Mexican league. Alajuelense is set to make an effort to overturn the deficit in the second leg at their home ground on March 13.