América – Pumas: América Roars Back — Zendejas Double Powers Las Águilas to 4–1 Classic Win Over Pumas

Alejandro Zendejas scores twice as Club América storms past Pumas 4–1 — autogol, Zúñiga and a penalty complete the comeback. Full recap, stats & where to watch.

América – Pumas — in short

Club América overturned an early Pumas lead to win 4–1 in the Clasico Capitalino — Alejandro Zendejas scored twice (including a brilliant lob and a composed penalty), Raúl Zúñiga added a late goal, and an own goal helped spark the Águilas’ comeback at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.

Why América vs. Pumas matters

The Clásico Capitalino is always more than three points — it’s a city derby that carries history, bragging rights, and scoreboard momentum for the rest of the season:

• Local bragging rights: América vs Pumas pits two of Mexico City’s biggest clubs against each other, with passionate fanbases and national media attention. A convincing win in this match bounces across social feeds and weekly headlines.
• Standings & title race: With América sitting near the top of the standings and Pumas struggling for consistency, this result matters for Liga MX playoff positioning (América moved closer to the summit while Pumas’ slate looks more precarious). Fox Sports’ table shows América near the top of the Liga MX table entering matchday.
• Psychology & momentum: A comeback win like this can shift team morale and public perception: América’s resilience under pressure and Zendejas’s late clinical finishing are likely to be focal points for pundits and fans.

Those three forces — pride, points, and psychology — explain why this game will be in fans’ minds for days.

Final score & headline statistics (the essentials)

• Final: Club América 4, Pumas UNAM 1.
• Scorers: Jorge Ruvalcaba opened for Pumas; the match swung with an América own goal, Raúl Zúñiga (equaliser), and two goals from Alejandro Zendejas (a lob and a penalty). Various outlets highlight Zendejas’ influence as the match’s turning point.
• Standings impact: América’s win kept them firmly in the top spots of the Liga MX table (América counted 24 points in the standings snapshot), while Pumas remained mid-table and under pressure with 13 points after this round. Fox Sports’ live table reflects the standings movement.

¡FIN DEL PARTIDO Y TRIUNFO A NUESTRO FAVOR EN EL CL4SICO CAPITALINO! 🦅🔥@GNPseguros#Viviresincreíble pic.twitter.com/Fdm55k1U9n

— Club América (@ClubAmerica) September 28, 2025

 

The match: minute-by-minute narrative and turning points

Kick-off & early Pumas pressure

The match started with energy from both sides. Pumas took the early initiative thanks to incisive movement from their attacking line. Jorge Ruvalcaba capitalised on a moment of chaos to open the scoring and give Pumas an early advantage — something that briefly silenced the home crowd and put América on the back foot.

América’s response & the own goal that changed momentum

Rather than panic, América grew into the game. A defensive misplay led to an own goal that levelled the score and shifted momentum toward the Águilas. In derbies, small moments like deflected efforts or defensive errors often determine the tilt of the contest — and this one did. (Video highlights and match reports show the build-up and the key intervention that caused the own goal.)

Zendejas sparks the comeback

Alejandro Zendejas — a name that had been gaining attention in Liga MX for his attacking craft — produced a moment of individual brilliance: a high-arching lob that beat Keylor Navas and put América ahead. The goal’s audacity and technical quality forced pundits to reach for superlatives — it was the kind of finish that separates highlight reels. (Soy Fútbol)

The penalty and the seal

Late in the second half América drew a penalty. Zendejas calmly converted from the spot to put the match out of reach and stamp his influence on the Clásico. The penalty also underscored América’s composure in decisive moments — a trait that league-leading sides possess.

The late finish & full-time

Raúl Zúñiga added a late goal to make the scoreline emphatic and emphasize how the match had shifted from a potential Pumas upset into an América statement. Final whistle: 4–1. Match footage, video highlights and roundups emphasised the team’s lift after halftime and the clear shift in initiative.

Player spotlights — who made the difference

Alejandro Zendejas — the game-changer

Zendejas was the headline maker: a spectacular lob (lift), intelligent off-ball work and a confident penalty that converted the comeback into a rout. He finished with two goals and the match MVP discussion quickly centred on him. Postgame clips and video reaction showed Keylor Navas and the Pumas defense stunned by the lob in particular.

Why it matters: Zendejas’s quality gives América another reliable attacking outlet and raises his stock as a late-season match-winner — a useful line on scouting reports and fantasy lineups.

Raúl Zúñiga — the equaliser and defensive presence

Zúñiga’s involvement — whether as scorer or as physical presence — was crucial. His equaliser and follow-up plays helped América move from reaction to control. Match summaries and video clips cite his energy and timely positioning.

Keylor Navas (Pumas) — busy night, beaten by a wonder goal

Keylor Navas had a busy night with multiple saves, but he was on the wrong end of Zendejas’ lob and a composed penalty. Postgame analysis remembered Navas’ earlier saves but noted that exceptional goals and defensive errors produced the decisive margin.

Pumas offense — bright flashes but too little consistency

Pumas created chances and Jorge Ruvalcaba’s opener was evidence of their attacking intent; however, defensive lapses and failure to protect the lead undermined the effort. Match analytics and highlight compilations show that Pumas’ early pressing created opportunities but they couldn’t maintain the intensity.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Tactical analysis — how and why América turned it around

1) Halftime tweaks & midfield control

América’s coach adjusted formations and personnel to gain better control of midfield battles. That control allowed América to feed wider players and create overloads on the wings. Video breakdowns show clearer passing lanes and more effective off-ball runs after halftime.

2) Exploiting Pumas’ defensive vulnerabilities

Pumas, after scoring early, shifted to protect their lead but that sometimes leaves teams vulnerable to counter-pressing or to long balls that target the space behind. América found those channels, and the own goal plus Zendejas’ lob demonstrate how quickly momentum shifts at this level.

3) Set-piece and transition emphasis

América’s goals came from a mix of open play brilliance and pressure sequences. The team’s set-piece organization and second-ball aggression paid dividends late. Tactical reviews pointed to targeted training in finishing and finishing under pressure for América’s attacking units.

Turning points & five moments that decided the Clásico

1. Ruvalcaba’s early opener — put Pumas in front and tested América’s composure.
2. The own goal that equalised — momentum shift, gave América belief to press on.
3. Zendejas’ lob (second-half highlight) — a wonder finish that changed the narrative and gave América the lead. (Soy Fútbol)
4. The penalty converted by Zendejas — composure under pressure; put the result out of doubt.
5. Zúñiga’s late goal — the insurance that made the scoreline emphatic and closed the game.

Those five plays tell the story: Pumas started strongest, but a sequence of high-value events swung the match irreversibly to América.

Standings & the bigger Liga MX picture (tabla general context)

Using the latest table snapshots, América sits near the top of the Liga MX standings with 24 points from 11 matches — a run that places them within shouting distance of the summit and playoff qualification zones. Pumas — on 13 points after this match — languish mid-table and must now refocus to avoid slipping further. Fox Sports’ standings page reflects the post-match movement in table placement.

Why it matters: Liga MX’s Apertura is short and volatile; wins in classic fixtures carry extra weight when the margin for error is small.

Injuries, suspensions & squad implications

After the match, there were no headline season-ending injuries reported; postgame notes indicated that both teams will monitor knocks and evaluate player loads heading into the next round of fixtures. América’s ability to finish strongly and Pumas’ need to shore up defensive discipline are immediate talking points for both coaching staffs. Watch official team media for updates on minor knocks and rotation decisions.

 

Where to watch & broadcast info (U.S., Mexico & international)

If you missed the action or want replays, here’s where to look:

• USA: CBS Sports Network carried live coverage and offers streaming options in the U.S.; CBS published “how to watch” guides for the match. (CBSSports.com)
• Mexico: Domestic rights holders — watch on the usual Liga MX broadcasters including TUDN, Canal 5 / Televisa and pay TV partners depending on regional rights. Match highlights and replays appear on club channels and league platforms shortly after full time. (ESPN.com.mx)
• Streaming & highlights: The match’s top clips — Zendejas’ lob and the penalty — are already uploaded by media outlets and aggregated on YouTube and OneFootball’s live articles. (OneFootball)

If you’re compiling a content package, embed the CBS Sports or ESPN match widgets and add the short highlight clips for maximum engagement.

Fan reaction & social pulse

The #ClásicoCapitalino trended across Mexican social platforms for hours. América fans celebrated a dramatic comeback, sharing clips of Zendejas’ lob and Zúñiga’s finish; Pumas supporters lamented missed defensive chances and the failure to hold an early lead. Video reaction pieces and social highlights multiplied the moment’s reach, with highlight reels already circulating on X, TikTok, and league highlight pages.

Quotes & postgame themes (summary of press coverage)

Local and national coverage emphasised América’s resilience, Zendejas’ breakout night, and the tactical missteps from Pumas. Match reports included coach comments praising urgency and finishing, with bench reactions focused on tactical changes at halftime. For direct quotes, embed the club press conferences from Club América’s official site and Pumas’ postgame media releases. (ESPN.com.mx)

What this means next — short & medium term outlook

For Club América

• Momentum & title talk: A Clasico win like this boosts confidence and consolidates a serious run at the Apertura title. The club will look to maintain forward motion as fixtures come thick and fast. (FOX Sports)

For Pumas UNAM

• Recalibration: Pumas need to re-examine defensive focus and game management after conceding a comeback. The next few matches will be critical to whether they recover their form or slide down the table. (SI)