Pumas' defensive errors gift Xolos victory and seal Gilberto Mora's brace

Xolos de Tijuana capitalized on critical defensive errors by Pumas, securing a 2-0 victory in the Apertura 2026 Liga MX season. The turning point came in the 53rd minute when Pumas defender Rubén Duarte conceded a penalty, fouling Mourad Daoudi. Gilberto Mora calmly converted the spot-kick to open the scoring for the Tijuana side at the Estadio Caliente.

The match took a further turn for Pumas when Pablo Bennevendo received a red card in the 59th minute for another foul on Daoudi, leaving the team with ten players. The defensive struggles continued for Pumas as Duarte committed a second penalty offense, again bringing down Daoudi. Gilberto Mora stepped up once more in the 81st minute to score his second goal and seal the victory for Xolos.

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Morita can now tell – as an anecdote – that he outsmarted the defense of the historic goalkeeper Keylor Navas, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

Keylor Navas, the veteran Pumas goalkeeper with multiple Champions League titles, could only shake his head in disappointment. Meanwhile, Mora's brace secured a crucial win for Xolos, lifting them temporarily to second place in the league standings. The victory marks a significant moment for Xolos, contrasting sharply with Pumas' ongoing struggles.

This defeat extends Pumas' winless streak to six games, encompassing both the current Liga MX campaign and their elimination from the Leagues Cup. The team currently sits in tenth place in the local league, awaiting the return of player "Chino" Huerta for a potential boost. Xolos, on the other hand, will look to maintain their momentum when they face the América Eagles in their next fixture, while Pumas are set to play León.

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Two errors by Rubén Duarte cost the auriazules dearly.