Mazatlán FC clinched their inaugural victory of the Liga MX Apertura 2025 season, defeating Puebla 2-1 in a hard-fought match at Estadio El Encanto on Friday, July 18, 2025. The win marks a positive turn for the Cañoneros under coach Robert Dante Siboldi, while Puebla continues to search for their first points of the tournament, suffering their second consecutive loss.
The match, part of Jornada 2, kicked off at 9:00 PM Central Mexico time, with Mazatlán eager to impress their home crowd. The hosts wasted no time making their mark, with Alberto Herrera finding the back of the net in the 9th minute, giving Mazatlán an early lead. Herrera’s goal, assisted by Ángel Saavedra, set the tone for a dynamic first half. As the half progressed, Mazatlán extended their advantage when Jordan Sierra scored with a header in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a counter-attack. This put Mazatlán comfortably ahead 2-0 at halftime, showcasing their efficiency in front of goal despite Puebla’s efforts to control possession.
Puebla, led by coach Pablo Guede, emerged from the locker room with renewed determination in the second half. They pressed higher and made several tactical substitutions early on, including bringing in Emiliano Gómez, José Pachuca, and Ricardo Marín at the start of the second half. Their persistence paid off in the 73rd minute when Emiliano Gómez, a key player for Puebla throughout the match, scored to narrow the deficit to 2-1. Gómez’s goal ignited hopes of a comeback for La Franja, who continued to push for an equalizer in the final minutes. However, Mazatlán’s defense, bolstered by late substitutions like Lucas Merolla and Salvador Rodríguez, held firm against Puebla’s onslaught, securing the crucial three points.
Match statistics highlighted a game of contrasting styles. According to ESPN Deportes, Puebla dominated possession with 57.6% compared to Mazatlán’s 42.4%. Despite this, Mazatlán proved more clinical, converting two of their seven total shots (four on target) into goals. Puebla, on the other hand, registered 12 total shots with five on target but only managed to score once. The game also saw its share of disciplinary actions, with Mazatlán receiving three yellow cards (Ángel Saavedra, Anderson Duarte, Nicolás Benedetti) and Puebla accumulating four (Juan Manuel Fedorco, Jesús Rivas, Lucas Cavallini, and coach Pablo Guede).
Key performances included Alberto Herrera and Jordan Sierra for Mazatlán, whose goals were decisive. For Puebla, Emiliano Gómez stood out not only for his goal but also for his five attempts on target, constantly testing the Mazatlán defense. The match was officiated by referee Katia García Mendoza.
With this victory, Mazatlán FC now sits in third place in the Liga MX standings with 4 points from two matches (one win, one draw). This marks a significant improvement after their opening draw. Conversely, Puebla remains at the bottom of the table in 16th place with zero points, having lost both their matches so far. Looking ahead, Mazatlán will face Pachuca away in their next fixture, while Puebla will return home to host Santos Laguna, hoping to turn their fortunes around. The match was streamed exclusively on TUBI, offering free access to fans (Milenio).
