Tijuana - Pumas: Juninho rescues 1-1 draw and Pumas extend unbeaten run
Pumas salvaged a 1-1 draw in their visit to Tijuana, with Juninho's stoppage-time equalizer keeping the auriazules unbeaten in the Clausura 2026. The Tijuana - Pumas encounter produced an end-to-end game at the Mictlán that ended with both teams sharing the points and fresh questions about momentum and missing personnel.
Tijuana - Pumas: how the score unfolded
Ramiro Árciga opened the scoring for the home side with a powerful shot from the edge of the area that deflected and found the net at the 40th minute. In first-half stoppage time, Juninho pushed in a rebound from the post at the 44th minute to level the match, marking his fourth goal of the campaign. The sequence left the score 1-1 at the break and set the tone for a frenetic second half.
Tactical setup and key moments
Coach Efraín Juárez sent Pumas out with an offensive starting eleven that repeatedly threatened the Tijuana goal. The visiting XI created several dangerous moments that tested José Antonio Rodríguez. Tijuana responded as the match progressed, pressing Pumas and generating their own chances. A long-range effort by Pedro Vite in the early minutes of the second half struck the crossbar and bounced close to the line, narrowly missing what would have been a dramatic comeback for the visitors.
Players and match details listed in the context
The coverage included the following player names associated with the contest: José Antonio Rodríguez, Rafael Fernández, Unai Bilbao, Jackson Porozo, Jesús Vega, Iván Tona, Kevin Castañeda, Ramiro Árciga, Ignacio Rivero, Domingo Blanco, Mourad Daoudi.
Another group of names provided in the match context were: Keylor Navas, Rodrigo López, Nathan Silva, Ángel Azuaje, Álvaro Angulo, Pedro Vite, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Alan Medina, Jordan Carrillo, Juninho, Robert Morales.
Standings, streaks and statistical implications
With the draw, Pumas extended their unbeaten run to eight matchdays in the Clausura 2026. That sequence leaves the universitarios in a strong position: they sit provisionally in second place with 16 points, behind Chivas with 18 points; Chivas is set to visit the Diablos Rojos this coming Saturday. Pumas and Toluca are the only teams in the competition without a loss at this point.
Tijuana's result continued a winless stretch that has reached six matchdays—five draws and one defeat—dropping them to 10th place with nine points. The home side also must manage the ongoing absence of youngster Gil Mora, a Mexican attacker who typically helps open spaces for the Xolos but has missed much of the tournament due to a muscular injury.
Context: other Liga MX results mentioned alongside the match
Santos Laguna and Querétaro played to a 2-2 draw, with Mateo Coronel scoring at the 13th minute and Santiago Homenchenko converting a penalty at the 30th minute for Querétaro. Lucas Di Yorio scored from the penalty spot at the 23rd minute and Carlos Gruezo struck at 45'+6' for Santos Laguna. As a result, Santos Laguna remained the only team without a victory, holding two points and sitting at the bottom of the standings, while Querétaro occupied 15th place with six points.
Mazatlán beat Pachuca 1-0 thanks to a goal by Dudu Teodora in the second minute of stoppage time before the break. Mazatlán reached a three-match unbeaten run (two wins and a draw) and moved to 14th place with seven points after a difficult start that included five defeats. Pachuca stood in fifth place with 14 points.
Ciudad Juárez ended a five-match winless run by defeating Atlas 3-1. The Bravos rose to 13th with seven points, while Atlas fell to sixth with 13 points.
What comes next for Tijuana and Pumas
Tijuana will travel to face Atlas at Estadio Jalisco on Wednesday, March 4 at 21: 00 hours, tiempo del centro de México. Pumas return to Ciudad Universitaria to host Toluca on Tuesday, March 3 at 21: 10 hours, tiempo del centro de México, with the visitante aiming to preserve their unbeaten run in the Clausura 2026.
Recent developments indicate Pumas have consolidated form under Efraín Juárez, while Tijuana must address squad absences and a stretch without victory. Details may evolve as teams prepare for their upcoming fixtures.
