Keylor Navas and Pumas left the former Estadio Azteca with the Liga MX quarterfinal series still alive after a wild 3-3 draw against América on Sunday evening. The Clásico Capitalino opened the Clausura 2026 playoffs with six goals, two late penalties, and a tense finish in which the Costa Rican goalkeeper helped keep Pumas from a full collapse. América, playing at Estadio Banorte, the venue long known as the Estadio Azteca, fought back from a 3-1 deficit to leave the first leg level.
Pumas struck first through Juninho Vieira in the opening minutes, taking advantage of an América defensive mistake. América answered quickly when Isaías Violante beat Navas to make it 1-1, but the Auriazules regained control before halftime through Uriel Antuna.
The visitors appeared to take command early in the second half when Jordan Carrillo scored in the 52nd minute to put Pumas ahead 3-1. At that point, Navas and Pumas looked positioned to take a major advantage back to Ciudad Universitaria.
Instead, América came alive late. Henry Martín converted a penalty in the 78th minute to cut the deficit, and Alejandro Zendejas scored another from the spot in the 85th to pull América even. The two penalties changed the shape of the match and left Pumas trying to survive the final minutes.
Navas then became the central figure in the closing stretch. América pushed for a fourth goal, but the Costa Rican keeper produced a key save to deny Zendejas and stop the home side from completing the comeback. It was the kind of moment Pumas needed after letting a two-goal lead slip away.
For us fans here in Costa Rica, the match offered another reminder of Navas’ value in high-pressure games. Pumas did not leave with the win they had in their hands, but they avoided defeat on the road and return home with the advantage of their higher regular-season finish.
Pumas entered the playoffs as the top seed after finishing first in the regular phase, while América qualified eighth. That matters now. With the series tied, Pumas can advance with a draw or a win in the second leg, while América needs a victory to move on.
The next match is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. Kickoff is listed for 7:15 p.m. Costa Rica time.
