Querétaro's Second-Half Storm Undid a Wasteful Pachuca

Pachuca had this one inside three minutes. Salomón Rondón headed the Tuzos in front early at Estadio Hidalgo, and for a stretch it looked like the formality most expected. It wasn't. Querétaro came from behind through a second-half brace from Ali Ávila, the equalizer in the 58th minute and the winner deep into stoppage time, to leave Pachuca beaten 2-1 in Matchday 2 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026, per TUDN's match report and ESPN's box score.

This wasn't a disciplined, backs-to-the-wall Querétaro grinding out a smash-and-grab. Ávila's second goal came off a counter-attack, and Querétaro actually shaded the expected-goals count, 2.06 to Pachuca's 1.27, according to ESPN's match stats. That's a team that came to Hidalgo and out-played the home side for large stretches, not one that got lucky. For Pachuca, the concern isn't wastefulness in front of goal, they scored inside three minutes. It's what happened after: a lead they couldn't manage against a Gallos Blancos side now unbeaten in four straight against them. Rondón's goal was the easy part.