Santos Laguna beat Pumas UNAM 2-0 at the Estadio TSM on Wednesday in Jornada 13 of the Apertura 2026, a result that gave the Torreón club six consecutive Liga MX wins for the first time in its history, according to TUDN. Both goals came from penalties, and Pumas played nearly the entire match with ten men. The result leaves Santos ninth on 19 points and Pumas eleventh on 16, with both sides still fighting for a place in the Liguilla.
Why it matters
The win is a milestone for Santos and a costly setback for Pumas in the race for the postseason. TUDN reports that Santos now sits one point behind Gallos Blancos with four matches left in the regular season, while Pumas have slipped further from the qualification places. ESPN México framed the night as Santos finding Liguilla rhythm through the streak, and described Pumas as suffering after the sending-off. The match also ended in a touchline confrontation that drew attention away from the scoreline.
An early penalty and an early red card
The decisive moment arrived almost immediately. According to TUDN, in only the first minute Nathan Silva was judged to have pushed Ezequiel Bullaude inside the area, and the referee awarded a penalty and sent the Pumas defender off, ruling it a clear goalscoring opportunity. TUDN's match report says the dismissal came at minute 2.
The Mudo Aguirre converted the spot kick to put Santos ahead. From there, TUDN reports, the game changed completely: Pumas dropped deep and gave up possession, while Santos held the ball but struggled to create clear chances. TUDN recorded the hosts with 69 percent of possession in the first half against Pumas' 31.
Pumas, despite the numerical disadvantage, had moments on the counter. TUDN notes Antuna forced a save from Acevedo and that Huerta tried a rabona that the goalkeeper handled without trouble. ESPN México reported that Pumas at times looked the closer side to scoring as Santos lacked urgency, though the visitors could not find an equalizer.
A second penalty and a late flashpoint
The second goal came in the 79th minute. TUDN reports that a header from Sánchez at a corner was blocked by Duarte with his hand, and Franco Pardo converted the resulting penalty, sending the ball down the middle after Keylor Navas moved. TUDN also notes that Carrasquilla had gone off injured before that sequence.
The closing stages turned heated. TUDN reports that Juninho gestured toward the Santos supporters, Abella responded, and the exchange escalated into pushing and insults between the two benches, briefly stopping the match. A member of Esteban Solari's staff was sent off for throwing a bottle toward the Santos dugout. MARCA also covered the Juninho gesture and the controversy it sparked.
Solari, the Pumas coach, had already been booked earlier in the match by referee Guillermo Pacheco after repeated complaints, according to TUDN. After the final whistle, ESPN México reported that Solari called the refereeing in the Santos-Pumas match "escandaloso" — scandalous.
What to watch
Both clubs return to action in the jornada doble, with Santos aiming to extend the streak and protect their position just outside the direct qualification spots, and Pumas needing points to close the gap to the Liguilla places.
