Puebla snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory at Necaxa on Friday, with a 93rd-minute goal from Mathías Adrián Tomás Borges sealing a 0-1 win at the Estadio Victoria. The three points are vital in their push up the table, moving them into ninth place in Liga MX with 10 points from six games.
Manager Gerardo Espinoza set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Rodrigo Gutiérrez in goal and a back four of Iván Moreno, Fernando Almada, Juan Pablo Vargas and Fernando Monárrez. Alejandro Organista and Santiago Sanabria anchored the midfield, while the attacking trio of Brayan Garnica, Kevin Velasco and Carlos Baltazar supported striker Omar Moreno. The first half was controlled by the hosts, who had 56% of possession but failed to create clear chances. The match heated up just before the break, with three yellow cards shown in the 45+1st minute for a mass confrontation involving Puebla's Vargas and Monárrez and Necaxa's Raúl Martínez.
Espinoza rings the changes
The second half began with changes on both sides. Espinoza introduced Ignacio Maestro and Óscar Villa for Omar Moreno and Monárrez, seeking fresh legs. Although Necaxa continued to see more of the ball, Puebla grew into the game and began to create more danger, registering 12 total shots to their opponent's nine. The introduction of Mathías Borges for Kevin Velasco in the 62nd minute proved decisive. The Uruguayan found the reward for the team's persistence when, on a quick break, Alejandro Organista slid a precise pass into the box. Borges struck a low shot across the goalkeeper, beating Luis Jiménez and sparking wild celebrations on the visiting bench.
Table implications
This win, their third in the last five matches, keeps Puebla in mid-table, six points behind leaders Club America. The team has shown a potent attack with nine goals scored, but also a leaky defence having conceded the same number.
Manager Gerardo Espinoza praised his team's character. "It's a very important win, born from hard work and belief until the very end," the coach said in his post-match press conference. "The players never gave up and they deserved this reward." The match also saw three further Puebla players booked: Carlos Baltazar for a foul in the 49th minute, and the earlier yellows for Vargas and Monárrez.
The schedule offers no respite. Puebla must now prepare to host a direct rival, Toluca, who currently sit third. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, 16 September at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc. All the details on upcoming fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.
