FC Juarez Goes Down Fighting in 3-2 Loss to Pachuca

FC Juarez came up short once again on Saturday evening, this time losing to Pachuca 3-2 on the road in the state of Hidalgo. This most recent loss only adds to the negative streak the Bravos are currently on, failing to win a lone match this season with the season halfway over.

After a scoreless first half, the Bravos took a 1-0 lead only three minutes into the second half (48th min.) when forward Aitor Garcia scored from the left wing. The illusion of a possible first win for the 2024 clausura season lasted all of 25 minutes. The home team came back to score 3 goals in the span of nine minutes to take a comfortable 3-1 lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the match.

Bravos would be able to get another goal with a little more than five minutes to go in the match, but it would not be enough as the result gave the Bravos the fourth consecutive loss. 

In his post match presser, FC Juarez new head coach/technical director Maurico Barbieri said this after his third match, “Today’s feeling with regard to today’s match was that of frustration. We had a good performance against a good team in which we were able to reduce the difference to make it a balanced match.”

Barbieri acknowledged what appears to have been the M.O. for this team since its inception into Liga MX saying that the team continues to pay the maximum penalty for lapses of concentration the team has resulted in goals for the opposing team.

As for what lies ahead for this team, the new Juarez boss commented, “I feel that these last two performances gives us the hope we need to continue to look forward. We will now have more time (a full week) to train, make the corrections and continue to develop and perform better than we have been.”

The Brazilian head coach/technical director and his squad will need all the time they can get to prepare for their next match versus Toluca at home on Friday night. The Red Devils will be coming into the Borderland with sitting in fourth place in the general standings table with 19 points as a result of five wins, four draws and only one loss.

Bravas lose first home match of the season

Sunday evening the FC Juarez Bravos dropped their first match of the season at home, losing to Atlas 3-1. The ladies from the Borderland allowed the first two goals in the first half in the span of seven minutes, the third goal came moments into the second half. 

The Bravos scored in stoppage time just before the final whistle blew. 

After the match head coach/technical director Oscar Fernandez did not hold back. He was adamant that his team had just had their worst performance of the season and showed evident displeasure. Perez, also did rotate a significant amount of players to his starting lineup, more than the three players that have temporarily left the squad due to being called by their national team for international duties.

The Bravas currently occupy eighth place in the general standings table, the last playoff spot with 12 points on the season. They are being closely followed by five teams behind them all with 11 points. 

FC Juarez next match will be on Saturday against Cruz Azul in Mexico City. Kickoff is scheduled for 11a.m. MST.