Veiga Scores First Goal in Mexico as América Thrash Puebla; Pachuca Stun Tigres with Late Strike

 

Brazilian midfielder Raphael Veiga opened his scoring account in Mexican football on Friday night, guiding Club América to an emphatic 4–0 victory over Puebla FC on Matchday 7 of the Clausura 2026 tournament. In a separate fixture, CF Pachuca rallied to defeat Tigres UANL 2–1 in Monterrey, sealed by a spectacular long-range effort from Brazilian forward Robert Kenedy.

Veiga, América’s marquee signing for the season, made his first start under head coach André Jardine and delivered a composed performance that justified the expectations surrounding his arrival. After 112 minutes of league play since joining from Palmeiras, the attacking midfielder found the back of the net for the first time in Mexico, putting América ahead in the 43rd minute.

Jardine praised the Brazilian’s influence after the match, highlighting his creativity, vision, and scoring ability. He noted that Veiga has the potential to revive the team’s most dynamic qualities, emphasizing that his impact will grow as he continues adapting to his new surroundings.

América entered the contest at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc under pressure, having managed only three goals in the tournament and failing to score in their previous three away matches. The dominant display against Puebla marked a decisive turnaround. In addition to Veiga’s opener, Isaías Violante extended the lead in the 61st minute, Chilean forward Víctor Dávila added a third in the 78th, and Colombian striker José Zúñiga completed the rout in the 87th minute.

Jardine underscored his side’s defensive discipline, stating that they successfully neutralized Puebla’s primary strengths, particularly their counterattacks and pace on the wings. He also commended the contributions of substitutes, noting the positive energy brought by Zúñiga and Dávila.

With the victory, América climbed to sixth place in the standings with 11 points. Puebla, coached by Spanish manager Alberto Espigares, remained on five points and slipped to 14th position, now holding one of the league’s least productive offenses.

Earlier in the evening, Pachuca produced a dramatic comeback at the Estadio Universitario. Tigres had taken the lead in the 39th minute through Ozziel Herrera and appeared poised to protect their advantage. However, Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón equalized in the 79th minute, setting the stage for a memorable finale.

Kenedy, introduced in the 73rd minute, delivered the decisive moment in the 88th. After collecting the ball deep in his own half on the left flank, he advanced past midfield and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from nearly 50 meters, catching Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán off his line.

Pachuca, managed by Argentine coach Esteban Solari, secured their third consecutive victory and extended their unbeaten run to six matches. The result lifted them to second place with 14 points. Solari described the win as hard-fought against a high-caliber opponent, praising his team’s resilience after trailing at halftime.

Tigres, led by Guido Pizarro, dropped to eighth place with 10 points. Pachuca also welcomed back Ecuadorian forward Enner Valencia, who returned from a thigh injury sustained late last year.

The evening’s results underscored América’s resurgence and Pachuca’s growing momentum, adding fresh intrigue to the Clausura 2026 title race.

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Tags: #Raphael Veiga #Club América #Enner Valencia, #Matchday 7 of the Clausura 2026 tournament.