First-place Pumas rout Querétaro; Rayados cruise past Necaxa

Break up the Pumas! UNAM overcame an early Gallos Blancos strike (Angel Sepúlveda in minute 4) and rolled to an easy 3-1 win at Querétaro, clinching the game with a late goal just 3 minutes after going down to 10 men.

With the victory, the Pumas remain on top of the Liga MX table with a perfect 6 points from two matches. More than the win is the way the “Universitarios” are playing, putting on such an impressive display that fans might be prompted to ask: “Who are these guys?”

UNAM barely made the playoffs last season then sold off their best midfielder (Erik Lira) while adding two players from second division and promoting a couple prospects from their youth academy.

Two weeks into the Clausura 2022 season and coach Andrés “The Magician” Lillii appears to have created a juggernaut.

Pumas playing with purpose

UNAM was a mess most of the Apertura 2021 (in 17th place after Matchday 14) and Lillini’s squad struggled to score goals. Not much was expected to start the season, especially as top scorer Juan Ignacio Dinenno was suspended for the first two games and top defender Nicolás Freire is sidelined with a thigh injury.

But the Pumas obviously have other ideas. At Toluca last week and at Querétaro last night, UNAM played aggressively and efficiently. They finished plays (shots or centering passes) at a high percentage and 19 of their 41 shots have been on goal.

This is a dramatic improvement from last season. “Los Felinos” have 8 goals after two games; last season, the Pumas did not score their 8th goal until their 13th game!

Of course, skeptics will point out that Toluca was playing short-handed thanks to a Covid outbreak within the organization and the Gallos Blancos are not a playoff contender. UNAM’s first real test will come at home next Sunday when Miguel Herrera brings his Tigres into the CU.

Another concern will be the Pumas’ lack of depth and that will be a consideration heading into next Sunday’s “cat fight.” Alan Mozo faces a red-card suspension (though his 68th-minute expulsion was ridiculous and the suspension could easily be overturned on appeal) and playmaking midfielder Marco García suffered a nasty looking ankle injury in the final minutes against the Gallos.

Lillini is hoping García will be the midfield quarterback the team has lacked in recent seasons and the youngster (he’s 21) showed promise as a teenager before a knee injury cost him a year. He has shown skills and flair in his 24 first division games thus far and his goal last night is an early candidate for Goal of the Season.

For now, the Pumas can spend the rest of the weekend on their couches, secure atop the table, and watch how Matchday 2 plays out, paying close attention to Saturday night’s Tigres-Puebla contest.

Rayados rout Rayos

After a disappointing season opener (a scoreless draw at home against Querétaro), Monterrey cavorted around the Estadio Victoria turf and had their way with Necaxa, coasting to a 4-0 victory.

Rogelio Funes Mori, Maxi Meza and Duván Vergara scored in the first half and Javier Aguirre’s powerhouse squad coasted to a victory.

The Rayados are momentarily in second place with 4 points, while Necaxa sits in last place with 0 points and a –5 goal differential.