A 93rd-minute strike from Mathías Adrián Tomás Borges condemned Club Necaxa to a gut-wrenching 0-1 home defeat against Puebla in matchday 8 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026. M. Varini's side, who dominated possession, were left empty-handed after a devastating finale at the Estadio Victoria.
The loss leaves Necaxa in 12th place in the table, with just 7 points from a possible 18 after six games. Their recent form is a major concern, having gone five matches without a win in a run featuring three defeats and two draws.
Varini rings changes at half-time
The local manager set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Luis Jiménez in goal and a back three of Raúl Martínez, Kaiky Naves and Alexis Oliveros. Possession was clearly with the hosts, who finished with 56% of the ball and took 9 shots, though only 2 were on target. A lack of cutting edge was a constant issue. Seeking more impetus, Varini made a double change at the start of the second half, bringing on Kevin Ante and Miguel Rodríguez for Owen González and Mauro Zaleta.
A feisty affair
The first half ended with a flurry of yellow cards in added time, with Puebla's Juan Pablo Vargas, Necaxa's Raúl Martínez and Puebla's Fernando Monárrez all booked. Carlos Baltazar was shown a yellow in the 49th minute, completing the three cautions for Gerardo Espinoza's side.
The agonising winner
With the game being decided in midfield and both teams probing for an error, the breakthrough came from a substitute. Mathías Borges, who had entered the pitch in the 62nd minute, received a pass from Alejandro Organista in the box and made no mistake. His low, crossed finish beat Jiménez in the 93rd minute, sparking wild celebrations from the visitors and silence in the home stands. The Necaxa goalkeeper had made three saves prior to that decisive moment.
Manager Varini now has to lift the spirits of a bruised dressing room. "It's a very hard blow, especially because of how and when the goal came," the coach explained in his post-match press conference. The squad has a week to work before a significant fixture. Next Saturday, September 19th, Necaxa travel to face Atlético de San Luis, a direct rival who currently sit 13th. All the details of the next challenge are on our fixtures calendar.
