Suárez strikes secures quarterfinals for Pumas UNAM | OneFootball

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – Pumas UNAM became the final team to qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals on Thursday after a 1-1 away draw against LD Alajuelense at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

With the draw, Pumas UNAM won the series 3-1 on aggregate and will now face Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada in the quarterfinals.

The visitors had the first dangerous look in the 17’, with a left-footed drive by Guillermo Martínez from outside the box that was saved by Alajuelense goalkeeper Washington Ortega.

Larry Angulo produced two dangerous long-range attempts for Alajuelense in the 26’ and 34’, but both shots were met by saves from Pumas goalkeeper Alex Padilla.

Diego Campos struck for Alajuelense in the 39’, opening the scoring with a fantastic free kick to the top right corner of the goal to shorten the team’s deficit on the aggregate to one goal.

After hitting the woodwork a few minutes before, Leonardo Suárez equalized for Pumas in the 73’ with a powerful left-footed volley from the left end of the box to reestablish the team’s two-goal lead in the series.

Jorge Ruvalcaba came close to giving the visitors the lead in the 75’ with a right-footed attempt from the right side of the box that bounced off the left post.

With the win, Pumas UNAM advances to the quarterfinals and will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC.