Pumas UNAM seeks comeback as Cavalry FC chase history

MIAMI – Round One of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with the second leg encounter between Pumas UNAM and Cavalry FC on Thursday at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City.

The reigning Canadian Premier League champions became the first side to win in the CCC and defeat a Liga MX club with a 2-1 victory at home in the first leg. Charles Trafford scored in the 57’ to offset a 44’ goal from Santiago López before Tobias Warschewski netted the match-winner in the 80'.

Pumas UNAM vs. Cavalry FC

Pumas UNAM will seek to recover after its first-ever loss against a Canadian team in three encounters. The 2-1 defeat last Thursday marked a fourth consecutive winless match in the Champions Cup for the Mexican side.

Santiago López of Pumas UNAM scored his first Champions Cup goal in the first leg, becoming the fourth 19-year-old to score for the Auriazules since the 2008/09 season. At 19 years, 7 months, and 27 days, he is the third-youngest player to score for Pumas since the format change.

Reigning Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year Adalberto Carrasquilla was not called up for the first leg and could be one of the reinforcements for the second encounter.

Cavalry FC ended a two-game losing streak and secured its first-ever victory in the Concacaf Champions Cup, becoming the third Canadian club to defeat a Mexican opponent, following CF Montréal and Toronto FC.

The Cavs snapped a 10-game winless streak for Canadian clubs in the Champions Cup (0-1-9) and secured Canada’s 39th victory in 102 matches against all opponents since 1975.

Charles Trafford became the first Canadian player to score for Cavalry FC at 32 years, 8 months, and 13 days. He is also the oldest player in club history to achieve this feat.

Tobias Warschewski became the sixth German player to score in Champions Cup history since the 2008/2009 edition. He is the first to do so for a Canadian club and the third to score against a Mexican team.

The Universitarios will seek to overturn the one-goal deficit on aggregate, while the Canadian club will seek to make history as the first CPL team to win a CCC series.

The winner on aggregate will advance to the Round of 16. Away goals is the first tie-breaking procedure. If required, two 15-minute periods and a penalty shootout could be played to decide a winner.

Five key moments from the first leg

1. Cavalry FC’s First Champions Cup Win – The Canadian club earned its first-ever victory in the competition, becoming the third Canadian team to defeat a Mexican opponent after CF Montréal and Toronto FC.

2. Charles Trafford Makes History – Trafford (CAN) became the first Canadian to score for Cavalry FC in the Champions Cup and, at 32 years, 8 months, and 13 days, the oldest player in club history to do so.

3. German Influence in the Champions Cup – Tobias Warschewski (GER) became the sixth German player to score in the tournament since 2008/2009 and the first to do so for a Canadian club, while also being the third to score against a Mexican team.

4. Canadian Clubs Snap a 10-Game Winless Streak – Cavalry FC’s win ended a 10-match drought for Canadian clubs in the Champions Cup (L-9-D-1), marking Canada’s 39th victory in 102 matches in the competition since 1975.

5. Pumas’ Unwanted Record – The defeat extended Pumas UNAM’s winless run to four consecutive Champions Cup matches (D-2-L-2), marking their first back-to-back losses in the tournament since 2010 and 2011. It was also their first-ever loss to a Canadian club in three encounters.