America comes from behind to defeat Puebla with a dramatic goal from Ramón Juárez Juárez in the 90+8th minute of Liga MX Por Luís Henrique Costa
5 min de leitura
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Juárez heads the ball into the net at the 90+8 minute mark to secure a 2-1 victory for América over Puebla in the 14th round of the 2025 Liga MX Apertura. The match took place on Tuesday night, October 21, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. América, coached by André Jardine, was looking to recover after a loss in the Clásico Joven against Cruz Azul. Puebla took the lead, but América fought back with a penalty converted by Brian Rodríguez and the decisive goal by Ramón Juárez, keeping them in the race for the top spot.
The first half ended goalless, with both teams balanced in possession and chances created. América pressed with shots from Allan Saint-Maximin and Álvaro Fidalgo, but goalkeeper Álvaro Burgos made key saves. Puebla, bottom of the table with just eight points in 13 games, relied on counterattacks led by Ricardo Marín.
In the second half, the pace quickened as Emiliano Gómez opened the scoring for Puebla at the 52nd minute with a precise left-footed shot assisted by Ricardo Marín. América responded at the 67th minute, with Brian Rodríguez converting a penalty after a foul by Álvaro Burgos on the Uruguayan in the box.
- Key substitutions for América: Ramón Juárez for Alan Cervantes at 90+4; Víctor Dávila for Rodrigo Aguirre at 84 minutes.
- For Puebla: Raúl Castillo for Edgar Guerra at 88 minutes; Carlos Baltazar for Alejandro Organista at 90+7.
- Cards: Yellows for Emiliano Gómez, Eduardo Navarro, and Álvaro Burgos; red for Raúl Castillo at 90+1 for a harsh foul.
Referee Martín Molina Astorga added eight minutes of stoppage time, during which América dominated and scored the winning goal.
Decisive moment of the comeback
Ramón Juárez, América’s substitute defender, came on at the 90+4 minute and needed just four minutes to change the scoreline. The play started with a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin on the left, and Juárez outjumped the defense to head the ball into the top corner. The goal at 90+8 sparked intense celebrations among players and fans at the Azteca.
This was Juárez’s first direct goal contribution of the season, reinforcing his importance in tight matches. Puebla, down to 10 players after Raúl Castillo’s red card, couldn’t react in the remaining time.
Player highlights on the pitch
Allan Saint-Maximin stood out with assists and dangerous shots, including a chance saved at the 71st minute. Brian Rodríguez, who scored the equalizer, created three opportunities and drew the penalty foul. For Puebla, Emiliano Gómez was the standout, scoring and assisting, but the team faltered defensively in the final moments.
Other notable performances included Álvaro Fidalgo, with precise midfield passes, and Ricardo Marín, who threatened on counterattacks. Kevin Álvarez tried from the right flank but missed crosses.
América now has 27 points in 14 games, with eight wins, three draws, and three losses, trailing leader Toluca by one point. Puebla remains last with nine points, six points from the repechaje zone.
Tactical strategies employed
André Jardine opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, prioritizing possession with 58% control. Late offensive substitutions were key to the final push. Puebla, under Lauro Esquivel, used a defensive 5-3-2, but injuries like Eduardo Navarro’s at the 36th minute disrupted their backline.
- Possession: América 58%, Puebla 42%.
- Shots on goal: América 14, Puebla 8.
- Corners: América 7, Puebla 3.
The match saw interruptions due to 22 fouls, with VAR reviewing the penalty and red card.
Injuries and incidents during the game
Rodrigo Aguirre, América’s forward, suffered a back injury at the 14th minute of the first half and required medical attention but returned. Eduardo Navarro of Puebla was substituted at the 55th minute after a shin injury. Ricardo Marín halted play at the 43rd minute due to a muscle issue but continued.
No players required hospitalization, and both teams managed injuries with quick adjustments. América met part of the minimum minutes for U-20 players, with Alexis Gutiérrez playing the first 46 minutes.
League standings after the round
With the win, América holds third place with a +12 goal difference and 25 goals scored this season. Toluca leads with 28 points, followed by Monterrey with 27. Puebla, with nine points, needs urgent wins in the coming rounds.
The 2025 Liga MX Apertura is nearing its end, with the group stage concluding in November. América aims to meet the U-20 minutes requirement before the tournament ends.
