Overview and Context
Pachuca, a Mexican football club, was swiftly eliminated from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after losing both of their group stage matches. They faced defeats against Red Bull Salzburg and Real Madrid, confirming their early exit from the tournament. This marked Jaime Lozano’s first test as Pachuca’s head coach.
Match Details and Performance
Pachuca suffered a 1-3 loss to Real Madrid at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, placing them last in Group H with zero points and a goal difference of -3 after two rounds. Despite Real Madrid playing with a man down for 83 minutes, they managed to lead 3-0, making Pachuca appear disadvantaged.
Coach Jaime Lozano expressed his frustration post-match, stating, “We had chances and failed to capitalize. It was our last opportunity to stay in the tournament.”
Previous Match Against Red Bull Salzburg
In their opening match, Pachuca lost 1-2 to Red Bull Salzburg. The game was paused for over an hour due to a thunderstorm threat, and Pachuca managed to equalize at 1-1. However, Karim Onisiwo scored the winning goal for Red Bull Salzburg.
Real Madrid’s Comeback Despite Disadvantage
Real Madrid started with a red card for defender Raúl Asencio in the 7th minute, but still managed to take a 3-0 lead by halftime. Jude Bellingham scored in the 35th minute, Arda Güler added another goal in the 43rd minute, and Federico Valverde sealed the deal with a goal in the 70th minute. Elías Montiel scored a consolation goal for Pachuca in the 80th minute.
Impact on Group Standings
Pachuca became the sixth team eliminated from the group stage, joining Seattle Sounders (USA), Auckland City (New Zealand), Los Angeles FC (USA), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), and Ulsan Hyundai Tigers (South Korea). Real Madrid leads Group H with four points and a goal difference of +2, while Red Bull Salzburg follows closely with four points and a goal difference of +1.
Al Hilal, with two points and a goal difference of zero, still has a chance to advance to the knockout stage. The third group match will be played on June 26, with Real Madrid facing Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca taking on Al Hilal at the same time.
Coach’s Reflections and Future Outlook
Jaime Lozano acknowledged the team’s efforts, stating, “We wanted to win and didn’t succeed. We played well at times but fell short when it mattered most.” He emphasized the need for improvement, saying, “I come here to win, and I’m not satisfied with merely generating chances. We know the challenges of this tournament and will strive for continuous improvement.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the outcome of Pachuca’s matches in the FIFA Club World Cup? Pachuca lost both of their group stage matches, first to Red Bull Salzburg (1-2) and then to Real Madrid (1-3), leading to their early elimination from the tournament.
- How did Real Madrid perform despite being a man down? Despite playing with a red card for 83 minutes, Real Madrid managed to score three goals and secure a 3-1 victory over Pachuca.
- What are the current standings in Group H? Real Madrid leads with four points and a goal difference of +2, followed by Red Bull Salzburg with the same number of points but a goal difference of +1. Al Hilal has two points and a goal difference of zero, giving them a chance to advance to the knockout stage.
- What did Coach Jaime Lozano say about the team’s performance? Lozano acknowledged the team’s efforts but emphasized the need for improvement, stating that he aims to win regardless of the opponent and will work towards continuous improvement.
