Pumas UNAM earned their first home draw of the season on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with Morelia in a game they dominated and had numerous chances to score.
Morelia had an early goal from Raul Ruidiaz after a mistake from the hosts, but the rest of the game was all Pumas as they had numerous chances before converting a goal in the second half by Santiago Palacios. In the last minutes, Pumas received a red card and now have a very important game in Puebla that will hold their Liguilla fate.
Pumas needed the win to qualify to the Liguilla and faced a good opportunity by facing relegation troubled Morelia at home. But Morelia scored first when Ruidiaz beat the offside trap and scored in the early minutes of the game.
After that, Pumas had numerous chances that they missed, including Jesus Gallardo hitting the post and Matias Britos (who didn't have a good game) missing a short range effort by hitting it straight to the goalkeeper.
It was a total surprise that Morelia led 1-0 at half time, and in the second half, Pumas finally broke through when a ball went through to Santiago Palacios, who scored his first goal for Pumas.
After the goal, Pumas pushed forward and once again turned the game in their favor but couldn't convert. Britos had a header after a great cross by Pablo Barrera but Morelia's goalkeeper, Carlos Felipe Rodriguez, made a great stop.
The final minutes were turned around by a number of fouls called by the ref that frustrated the Pumas players and gave life to Morelia, including a near own-goal by Pumas.
With the clock counting down to the last minute Abraham Gonzalez got two quick yellows and got red carded, which further complicates Pumas for the Puebla game.
With the draw, Pumas will now face Puebla knowing that it will be a key game for their Liguilla aspirations. Puebla is already eliminated but are in the middle of a relegation fight and will be motivated to face Pumas. Morelia will go back home to face another team fighting for the Liguilla in Monterrey.