Pumas UNAM Eliminated from Leagues Cup on Penalties by Columbus Crew

The Leagues Cup journey for Pumas UNAM concluded dramatically on Tuesday, August 11, with a 3-2 penalty shootout loss to Columbus Crew at the ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The match, which ended 1-1 in regular time, saw the Mexican club eliminated from the international tournament.

Panamanian midfielder Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla was in the starting lineup for Pumas, contributing to midfield play. He had an early chance in the second minute, but his shot went over the crossbar. The MLS team took the lead in the ninth minute through Tarun Karumanchi's header from a corner kick. Carrasquilla received a yellow card in the 12th minute for a foul, leading the Pumas coach, Esteban Solari, to substitute him at halftime for Luciano Herrera.

Pumas managed to equalize just before the break with a volley from Álvaro Angulo in the 45th minute, assisted by Uriel Antuna. However, the complexion of the game shifted significantly in the 73rd minute when substitute Herrera received a direct red card for a hard tackle, leaving Pumas with ten players for the remainder of the match.

In the penalty shootout, despite a strong performance from goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who converted Pumas' first penalty and saved one shot, the misses by Guillermo Martínez, Rodrigo López, and Nathan Silva sealed Columbus Crew's victory and Pumas' exit from the competition.