In a match defined by tenacity and missed opportunities, Pumas UNAM and Tigres UANL settled for a 1-1 draw on Sunday at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, leaving both sides pondering what might have been in Liga MX’s Apertura Round 9. For a Tigres squad brimming with talent and ambition, the inability to close out games is becoming an increasingly glaring liability—and one that could haunt their campaign.

The evening unfolded with both teams fielding depleted lineups: Tigres missing talismanic striker André-Pierre Gignac and defensive anchor Rafael Guerrero to injury, while Pumas were without Santiago Lopez. Still, the match refused to lack for intensity. Tigres, set up in a 4-2-3-1, looked to seize early momentum through Ángel Correa and Jonathan Herrera, but Pumas’ back line, marshaled by Pablo Monroy and Ulises Rivas, stood resolute.

The breakthrough arrived in the second half. Tigres, controlling possession and pressing with intent, finally breached Pumas’ defenses when Jesús Garza finished off a slick passing sequence in the 63rd minute, sending visiting supporters into rapture. Yet their joy would be short-lived. Pumas, energized by the home crowd and their historic fighting spirit, responded with a surge of pressure that culminated in José Macias’ equalizer, a clinical finish from close range after a scramble in the box.

Both sides had chances to claim all three points. Tigres squandered a golden opportunity late on, as Diego Lainez saw his effort parried by Miguel Paul, the Pumas keeper whose reflexes kept the scoreboard level. Pumas nearly snatched victory themselves, with Alan Medina’s curling shot grazing the crossbar in stoppage time, but the final whistle confirmed a share of the spoils.

Key performances highlighted the match’s narrative. Miguel Paul’s assured goalkeeping and José Macias’ relentless movement kept Pumas in contention. For Tigres, Jesús Garza and Ángel Correa provided flashes of creativity, but the absence of Gignac’s finishing touch was palpable. The draw leaves Tigres in sixth and Pumas in eighth, both within striking distance of the league’s leaders but lacking the consistency to mount a serious title charge.

For Tigres, the inability to convert dominance into victory is an unsettling trend. With 21 wins to Pumas’ 8 in their head-to-head history, Tigres have traditionally had the upper hand. But Sunday’s match underlined a new reality: the gap is closing, not because Pumas are suddenly world-beaters, but because Tigres are failing to deliver when it matters most.

As the Apertura rolls on, Pumas’ resilience will serve them well. For Tigres, however, the question is becoming less about talent and more about temperament. Until they rediscover their killer instinct, draws like this will feel more like defeats than points gained.