FC Juárez beat Pachuca 2-1 in the Apertura 2025 Liga MX Play-In, securing their historic first ticket to the Liguilla. The Bravos scored early and withstood pressure from the Tuzos despite ejections on both sides. They will now face Toluca in the quarterfinals.
The match took place on November 23, 2025, at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez in Ciudad Juárez, at 19:00 central Mexico time. FC Juárez, coached by Martín Varini, lined up Sebastián Jurado in goal; defenders Javier Murillo, Jesús García, Eduardo López, and Diego García; midfielders Geraldo Castilho, Madson de Souza, José Luis Rodríguez, Ronaldo Pizarro, and Homer Martínez; and forwards Óscar Estupiñán. Pachuca, led by Esteban Solari, fielded Carlos Moreno; Sergio Barreto, Alonso Aceves, Eduardo Bauermann, Brían García; Pedro Pedraza, Alan Bautista; Luis Quiñones, Dussan Idrissi, Robert Kenedy; and Jhonder Cádiz.
Juárez's early dominance paid off in the 15th minute with a stunning scissors kick goal by Madson de Souza off a cross, making it 1-0. In the 38th, José Luis Rodríguez extended the lead by capitalizing on a rebound in the box, 2-0. Just before halftime, in the 45+1, Jhonder Cádiz pulled one back with a crossed shot from outside the area, 2-1.
In the second half, VAR ejected Pachuca's Brían García in the 67th minute for aggression on Estupiñán, leaving the Tuzos with 10 men. Juárez's Madson suffered a head injury in the 70th from a ball to the face, triggering the concussion protocol. Nine minutes of added time were awarded; a goal by Ricardinho was disallowed in the 90+8 for a prior foul. In the 90+7, Ian Torres (Juárez) and Víctor Guzmán (Pachuca) were sent off for mutual pushes.
'¡Bravos con carácter! Firmó un triunfo clave ante los Tuzos. Noche de garra, golazos y boleto a Cuartos de Final', tweeted Liga BBVA MX. Juárez, who drew 2-2 with Pachuca in the regular season and lost 1-3 to Tijuana in the prior Play-In while Pachuca beat Pumas 3-1, advances as the eighth seed. This marks the first Liguilla in the club's history, having scored six more goals and conceded seven fewer than Pachuca in the regular season.
